Prepare to have your Thanksgiving history turned on its head this holiday season!
If you thought Plymouth, Massachusetts was the birthplace of the first Thanksgiving, think again.
According to late Florida historian Michael Gannon, the true origins of this beloved feast trace back to a surprising location: sunny St. Augustine, Florida, a confounding 56 years before the Pilgrims’ famed gathering.
Gannon’s groundbreaking discovery, backed by compelling historical documents, solidifies Florida’s claim to hosting the inaugural Thanksgiving celebration.
The year? 1565.
Picture this: Pedro Menéndez de Avilés and a cohort of 800 Spanish settlers step foot in St. Augustine and kick off their arrival with a monumental Mass of Thanksgiving.
The guest list?
The native Seloy tribe was graciously invited by Menéndez himself to partake in this historic occasion.
Records suggest the spread might have consisted of ship-storable fare like hearty stews, sea biscuits and the ever-essential red wine from the Spaniards’ maritime provisions.
But did the Native Americans contribute to this inaugural feast?
Historian Rodney Kite-Powell speculates that indigenous delicacies such as alligator, gopher turtles, venison, and gourds might have graced the table had the Seloy tribe brought their own bounty.
This event, considered the first communal act of gratitude and religious observance in the inaugural European settlement of North America, finds its place in history books, though overshadowed by the later prominence of Thanksgiving observances by British forces during the 18th century.
While not etched into the national tradition, this overlooked celebration remains a pivotal moment in Florida’s rich history.
To honor this legacy, a towering 250-foot cross stands tall at the very spot where the Spaniards made their historic landing, a steadfast monument to Florida’s forgotten feast.