Part 3/8:

Contrary to modern Thanksgiving celebrations, the Pilgrims' original day of Thanksgiving was dedicated to fasting and prayer, a stark contrast to the convivial atmosphere expected today. Much of our current understanding of Thanksgiving is informed by narratives written in the 19th and early 20th centuries, which sought to craft an origin story for a relatively new holiday.

The Wampanoag Contribution

In the early 1600s, the Wampanoag Nation thrived in what is now southeastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island. With their population severely reduced by European-introduced diseases—leading to devastating mortality rates—this vulnerability prompted Massasoit to approach the Pilgrims with caution.