Why Give Thanks? And thanks for what?

Thanksgiving really began in 1621...and what were those people thankful for? Thankful to be alive!
Thanksgiving wasn't started to be thankful for the harvest, but to celebrate the fact you were still alive.

When a ship arrived after a long voyage it was customary to celebrate on the anniversary of their arrival.

The pilgrims that were able to celebrate that first Thanksgiving meant they had survived one of the harshest winters New England ever received and survived an outbreak of a contagious disease described as a mixture of scurvy, pneumonia and tuberculosis. Out of the 102 passengers....only 52 were able to give thanks that first Thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving night at 8pm on the History channel (271) a detailed story called: Desperate Crossing: The Untold Story of the Mayflower will air. It is very interesting and full of insight as to just how tough the journey to the new world was.