Thanksgiving is often taught in U.S. classrooms as a feel-good origin story: Pilgrims and Indigenous peoples gathering around a table in 1621 to celebrate the harvest with turkey and pie.
But like many historical narratives simplified for children, the truth is much more complex — and far more meaningful when told honestly.
Let’s take a look at the real story behind Thanksgiving, how it evolved into a national holiday, what it looks like today and how more recent trends like (Black Friday and retail openings) have changed the way we experience the holiday.
The first Thanksgiving is not quite the schoolbook version
In the fall of 1621, the English colonists known as Pilgrims held a harvest feast at Plymouth. Members of the Wampanoag Nation — the Native people who had inhabited the area for generations — joined them for what became known as the “first Thanksgiving.”
But it wasn’t the peaceful, planned dinner party often depicted in classroom murals.
Historians believe it was more of a political alliance-building event than a unified celebration.
The Wampanoag had reasons for diplomacy with the settlers, and the meal likely included venison, seafood and indigenous crops rather than the stuffing-and-turkey menu we’re familiar with today.
Even the idea of it being the “first” Thanksgiving overlooks the fact that Indigenous nations across the continent had their own harvest festivals and traditions of gratitude long before Europeans arrived.
From scattered celebrations to national holiday
After 1621, Thanksgiving wasn’t immediately celebrated every year.
In fact, it wasn’t until 1863 — in the midst of the Civil War — that President Abraham Lincoln declared Thanksgiving a national holiday, hoping it would help unite a divided country.
Later presidents reinforced it, and in 1941, Congress officially established Thanksgiving Day as the fourth Thursday in November.
That’s when Thanksgiving started to take on the shape we recognize: a national day of rest, feasting and reflection, often steeped in family traditions.
How Thanksgiving has evolved in modern culture
Today, Thanksgiving is a blend of old and new — a mix of historical reflection, family togetherness, food traditions, sports and, increasingly, awareness.
Many Americans celebrate the holiday as a time for gratitude and connection. After all, the days before and the days after tend to be some of the busiest travel days of the year.
For others, it’s a day of mourning or protest, especially among Native communities whose communities were impacted by colonization and displacement that followed that 1621 meal.
At the same time, Thanksgiving continues to serve as a cultural anchor, kicking off the broader holiday season with a spirit of gathering and, for many, a big dose of comfort food.
Black Friday, Thanksgiving shopping and a cultural shift
In the 2010s, retail stores increasingly crept into Thanksgiving Day itself.
Eager to get a jump on Black Friday sales, big-box chains like Target and Walmart began opening on Thanksgiving evening — drawing shoppers away from the dinner table and into doorbuster lines.
But that trend didn’t last.
The COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 disrupted in-person shopping and forced many stores to rethink their strategies.
Consumers, already moving toward online shopping, shifted even further in that direction.
Retailers responded.
Major chains announced permanent closures on Thanksgiving, publicly citing respect for employees and changes in buying behavior.
Now, while Black Friday still exists, its cultural dominance is fading.
Many “deals” roll out weeks ahead of Thanksgiving.
And more people choose to spend the holiday offline — resting, connecting or simply enjoying a break from the frenzy.
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