Thanksgiving’s Maritime Roots: How the Sea Helped Shape Our Holiday

Thanksgiving is a holiday with deeper ties to maritime history than many realize. While the holiday today may center around turkey, cranberries, and pumpkin pie, the origins of Thanksgiving are closely tied to a journey across the sea, and the early survival of the settlers who inspired it owes much to maritime skills and resources. For those of us in coastal communities, the connection between Thanksgiving and the ocean runs surprisingly deep, making the holiday resonate in ways that go beyond the table. It all began with the Mayflower, the ship that carried the Pilgrims from England across the Atlantic in 1620. These settlers, searching for religious freedom, set sail in September and endured a grueling 66-day journey across cold, turbulent waters. Their voyage was marked by challenges, from rough seas to cramped conditions on board. Nevertheless, their arrival in November, just as winter approached, was a significant step toward what we now celebrate as Thanksgiving. After a tough winter, the Pilgrims eventually experienced a successful harvest, thanks in large part to the guidance and assistance of the Wampanoag people. This gathering, in which Pilgrims and Native Americans came together to share in the bounty of the land, is widely regarded...