When the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth, Massachusetts, in late 1620, they were ill-equipped for survival in their new homeland. Grain brought on the Mayflower wasn't suited for planting in the rocky American soil. Planting techniques used in England didn't adapt well on this side of the Atlantic either. But, perhaps most devastating, the harsh winter reduced the number of settlers by half.

Invaluable help came from Squanto, also known as Tisquantum, a Wampanoag (wam pa NO ag) American Indian, who taught the Pilgrims techniques for planting and fertilizing that were appropriate for the rugged surroundings. With some seeds provided by Squanto, the Pilgrims planted corn, wheat, and barley in the spring of 1621.

By fall, realizing that their first harvest of corn and barley would be plentiful, Governor William Bradford declared a day of thanksgiving. At the three-day feast, the 50 settlers hosted 90 Wampanoag, including their chief, Massasoit. As was the Wampanoag's custom, they brought venison as a contribution to the meal. Not only was this festival a way to thank the Wampanoag, but it also served to boost the morale of the remaining settlers.

The next Thanksgiving celebration didn't occur until 1623, as the Pilgrims' harvest of 1622 was far from bountiful. In 1668, the Plymouth General Court declared that November 25th would be Thanksgiving — but this date didn't last. The first national Thanskiving didn't occur until 1777 and was perhaps tied more to celebrating the American's Revolutionary War victory over the British in the Battle of Saratoga than anything else. It was George Washington who declared Thanksgiving a national holiday with a Presidential proclamation in 1789. President John Adams followed turn; Thomas Jefferson did not. Whether to have Thanksgiving or not was left up to yearly Presidential proclamations until 1863, when Abraham Lincoln finally declared the last Thursday of November a national day of Thanksgiving.

For Americans, Thanksgiving represents the combination of different traditions of giving thanks. One was a long religious tradition of religious observences where people gathered to thank God for their lives and good fortunes. Another, more ancient tradition is to celebrate the bounty of a good harvest.

A Cultural Experience
The first Thanksgiving feast was very much tied to the Pilgrim's first successful harvest. The origins of many modern world holidays go back to special times — like harvest time — during the annual cycle of the calendar. Planting and harvest times took on particular importance to early agricultural societies that depended on their crops for survival. They would mark the changing seasons with a feast or festival.

For example, in ancient England, the traditional harvest festival, called Harvest Home or Ingathering, was a time when great quantities of food were prepared and served. By the end of the 1800s, thanksgiving services were held in churches, and parishioners were often asked for donations of food. Colorful wreaths made of seasonal fruits decorated the village and the church.

Other cultures also mark the harvest with a special festival. Consider the following questions as you read the rest of this article:

• What are some things the following holidays have in common (apart from the fact they are all harvest festivals)?
• Can you trace your own Thanksgiving traditions to any of the customs described here?

Many special activities are held prior to the actual holiday. Often, the entrances to homes are decorated with flowers, and some families build two pyramid-shaped earthen mounds in their courtyards. The mounds represent a legendary king, Mahabali, and the god, Vishnu, who are closely associated with Onam.

Special prayer services are followed by a very festive meal. New clothes are often distributed to family members after the prayer service. Sometimes there are elephant processions through towns and villages. However, one of the main traditions associated with Onam is boat races. Scores of men row large, sleek boats that are covered with red umbrellas. The number of umbrellas denote the affluence of the family who owns the boat. Coins and tassels hang from the umbrellas. After the boat race, there are evening performances of the Kaikottikkali, a ritual dance associated with Onam.

African: The Festival of Yams
In many parts of Africa, customs and festivals center around the harvest. The Ashanti, a tribe in West Africa, celebrate a two-day, first fruits festival called Festival of Yams. Most often the celebrations are at the end of October. Usually there is an offering of food, a ceremony, feast, and dancing. Newly harvested grain is made into porridge, which is then offered to the Spirits of the East and West.

Kwanzaa, celebrated from December 26 through January 1, is patterned after African harvest festivals. In fact, the holiday's name derives from the Kiswahili (an east African language) phrase matunda ya kwanzaa, which means "the first fruits of the harvest." Some Kwanzaa traditions include lighting candles, singing songs, and gathering for a festive meal on the last night.

Temporary outdoor shelters, or booths, are built as reminders of the dwellings the Israelites carried with them during their 40 years in the desert following their exodus from slavery in Egypt. People eat, entertain guests, and even sleep in their sukkah.

The "roof" of the sukkah must allow for a view of the sky and stars, so it is commonly made from branches and foliage. Traditionally, fruits and vegetables are hung from the sukkah's roof, but many people add colorful streamers, holiday cards, and even colored lights as decorations. In some communities, Sukkot is a time for collecting food to distribute to those in need.

Chinese: Harvest Moon Festival
The Chinese Harvest Moon festival takes place on the 15th day of the 8th moon of the lunar calendar, a day when the ancient Chinese believed the moon was its brightest and fullest. The Harvest Moon festival is celebrated during the full moon nearest the autumnal equinox, which means it falls sometime between mid-September and early October.

The jubilant holiday occurs when that year's work in the fields is completed. Special worship services and family reunions mark the holiday. In advance of the festival, round cakes — called "moon cakes" — are baked. Symbolizing family unity, the cakes are decorated in red, yellow, or green. Some feature a rabbit, which is a symbol of long life. Traditionally, nuts, dates, or sweet beans provide the cakes' filling.

Numerous local groups, organizations, and institutions provide food to the hungry all year round. Their mission becomes even more critical during the holiday season. America's Second Harvest, which operates a network of food banks and distributes food throughout all 50 states and Puerto Rico, is the largest organization. In 1999, they distributed 1.4 billion pounds of food.

• America's Second Harvest Web site has information about childhood hunger, public policy, corporations working to combat hunger, and headlines from the news about hunger.
• The Food Research and Action Center (FRAC) is a nonprofit organization "working to improve public policies to eradicate hunger." The organization develops media information, provides support to a nationwide network of food banks, reviews legislation and reports that affect food assistance programs, and conducts research documenting the extent and impact of hunger.