Thanksgiving originated from the first harvest in the new year after the horrors of the first winter in Plymoth, Mass in... I want to say 1692, but the date escapes me.<br/><br/>The first winter was spent in the horbor, abord ship and was reportedly extremely brutal by their standards and a number of deaths were reported due to starvation, disease and a variety of other conditions common to confinement in close quarters without proper food or ventilation.<br/><br/>It was celebrated with the local tribe of native americans (IE: Indians) who provided both new seed for mew types of crop, and their understanding of the land. As it is a celebration of the harvest... sort of like the origins of the autumn harvest that eventually became Halloween, it is centered around food and companionship with good spirits... and we do eat alot on both Thanksgiving and Christmas. ;)<br/><br/>Hope that explains some.