Virginia's Thanksgiving predates Massachusetts' by 2 years. It took centuries for it to be recognized.

The celebration of the first Thanksgiving is commonly believed to have taken place in Massachusetts in 1621 with the arrival of the Pilgrims in Plymouth. But settlers in Virginia had their own Thanksgiving celebration two years earlier, and centuries later, that event was properly commemorated and given a generous helping of publicity, thanks to tireless advocate John J. Wicker Jr.