In 1962 September, "May flower" ship loaded with 102 pilgrims and their families to leave England to North America, after two months of hard sailing in Plymouth, Massachusetts ashore, settled down. The first winter, due to lack of food, cold weather, disease rampant and overworked, the settlers died more than half. The second year spring, the local Indian tribal chiefs, Masaso de led the kind-hearted Indian, gave the Puritan grain seed, and teach them to hunt, planting crops, fishing etc.. With the help of the Indians, the pilgrims had a good harvest. The first governor William Bradford has proposed the establishment of a festival to celebrate the harvest, thank you for the gift of god. At the same time, also want to take a holiday to strengthen the harmony between whites and indians. In late November 1621 Thursday, 90 Indians have a joyous gathering the Pilgrims and Massa Soder, celebrated the first Thanksgiving USA history. Male pilgrims go out hunting, capture Turkey, women in the home with corn, pumpkin, sweet potato and fruit to make delicious food. Thus, whites and Indians around the bonfire, chat while eating, but now singing, now dancing, the celebration lasted three days.

　　初时感恩节没有固定日期，由各州临时决定。直到美国独立后的1863年，林肯总统宣布感恩节为全国性节日。

　　At Thanksgiving without a fixed date, the provisional decision by the state. Until America after independence in 1863, President Lincoln declared Thanksgiving a national holiday.