When was the first Thanksgiving? The history behind the holiday

Most of us will soon gather with friends and family to enjoy a Thanksgiving feast , but where did this tradition originate?

Thanksgiving is Thursday, Nov. 27, and while we celebrate with festive parades and indulging in turkey, sides and desserts, the holiday does not come without controversy. The History Channel points out that many Americans —including people of Native American ancestry — believe Thanksgiving celebrations "mask the true history of oppression and bloodshed that underlies the relationship between European settlers and Native Americans."

Even more, while most consider the first Thanksgiving to date back to autumn of 1621, some historians point out that the Pilgrims' celebration was not the first festival of its kind in North America, according to the Smithsonian.

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