The very first Thanksgiving happened almost 400 years ago—long before the nation was born. How did it evolve into America’s quintessential national holiday? Credit largely goes to two people—one, a name you know; the other, you’ve probably never heard—but should. Melanie Kirkpatrick explains how a harvest party between Pilgrims and Indians became our oldest national tradition.
![Russian Sukhoi Su-35S fighter aircrafts fly over downtown Moscow on June 24, 2020. (Kirill Kudryavtsev via Getty Images)](/sites/default/files/styles/16_9_sm/public/2024-08/GettyImages-1222294574.jpg?h=4a4bb6ca&itok=o26bwUtz)
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Russian Sukhoi Su-35S fighter aircrafts fly over downtown Moscow on June 24, 2020. (Kirill Kudryavtsev via Getty Images)