Each Thanksgiving, we are reminded of the gathering in 1621 in Plymouth, Massachusetts, where English Puritan immigrants and the Wampanoag tribe shared a meal to celebrate a successful harvest. But over the years, there have been contentions regarding what was actually the “first” Thanksgiving. Did the French Huguenots and a Timucuan tribe celebrate it in 1564 when they held a simple service and meal together? Or was it the Spanish in Texas, when Fr. Juan de Padilla celebrated Mass with Spanish explorer Francisco Vasquez de Coronado?
However, the Huguenots lacked “officiality,” since they did not represent a permanent settlement. The Spanish in Texas, while celebrating Mass, did not include participation from local tribes.
With the holiday quickly approaching, I myself wanted to learn more about the origins and traditions surrounding Thanksgiving. In my own research, I discovered that there is one more thanksgiving celebration that took place — one that included permanent settlers and extended its celebration to the native peoples. And it took place 56 years before the feast in Plymouth.
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The “True” First Thanksgiving
Considered by many sources to be the “true” first Thanksgiving, this event took place over 1,200 miles away from Plymouth, Massachusetts. On Aug. 28, 1565, Spanish explorer Pedro Menéndez de Avilés caught sight of land from the ship “San Pelayo,” after spending a month at sea. He proclaimed the land to be named “St. Augustine” in honor of the saint’s feast day.
After another 10 days, the San Pelayo and her fleet finally reached shore. On Sep. 8, 1565, Pedro Menéndez and other Spanish settlers landed on the shores of what is now known as “the Nation’s Oldest City” — St. Augustine, Florida. When he set foot on land, Pedro Menéndez kissed a crucifix and claimed the land for Spain, just as the Catholic King Philip II ordered him to.
Almost immediately after, the explorers erected a makeshift altar on the sands, drawing the attention of the native Seloy tribe. Rather than dismissing or ignoring them, the Spanish settlers invited the tribesmen to join them in a Mass of thanksgiving. As Fr. Francisco Lopez de Mendoza Grajales celebrated the first recorded Mass in America, he noted that, while the rituals of the Mass must have seemed strange and foreign to the Seloy, they “imitated all they saw done.” Thus, the first Thanksgiving meal was not of earthly food, but the Sacred Banquet of the Eucharist, which itself means “thanksgiving.”
After Mass, Pedro Menéndez organized a grand feast, extending an invitation to the Seloy. Though it is not wholly verified what this meal consisted of, common fare of the Spanish sailors would have been cocido (a stew made from salted pork, garlic, and garbanzo beans), hard sea biscuits, and red wine. The Seloy likely contributed from their own supply as well, which would have consisted of some familiar foods (corn, beans, squash, even wild turkey), and more exotic flavors (alligator, gopher tortoise, and oysters).
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The Basis for Future Thanksgivings
While the Spanish celebrated a beautiful thanksgiving reminiscent of today’s celebrations — with the added fullness of the Eucharist — it did not become the basis for the national holiday. The Puritans already established days of thanksgiving in their calendars, and when the British eventually overtook the Spanish and French territories of the United States, it was the Puritan thanksgiving example that won out over the Catholic Spanish.
In spite of this, the events of Sep. 8, 1565 are not wholly forgotten. You can still visit the site of the first Mass, marked by a 208-foot stainless steel cross and a statue of Francisco Lopez de Mendoza Grajales. It is also the site of the first Marian shrine in the United States, dedicated to Our Lady of La Leche, as the first Mass took place on the feast of Mary’s nativity.
This Thanksgiving, perhaps incorporate something from that first Thanksgiving into your own. The early Spanish settlers easily could have ignored or scorned the curious Native Americans; instead, they extended an invitation to participate in their prayers of thanks to God. This Thanksgiving may be a perfect opportunity to invite friends or family to join your family in a similar way. Attend Mass on Thanksgiving morning, or pray together with your family before the meal — maybe even pray a Rosary to honor the Marian dimension of the first Thanksgiving! No matter what you decide, may the story of this first Thanksgiving remind us to first and foremost give thanks to God, the source of every good gift.
