Where Was the First Thanksgiving?
When it comes to Thanksgiving, most people immediately think of Plymouth, Massachusetts and the Pilgrims who celebrated the first Thanksgiving there in 1621. However, there is an often-overlooked and forgotten Thanksgiving celebration that predates the one in Plymouth by more than 50 years – the first Thanksgiving in Saint Augustine , Florida . Saint Augustine , founded in 1565 by Spanish explorer Pedro Menendez de Aviles , is the oldest continuously inhabited European settlement in the United States . It is a city steeped in rich history, and its first Thanksgiving deserves recognition for its unique place in American history. Prior to the arrival of Europeans the region around Saint Augustine was inhabited by the Seloy Tribe (named after its Chief) of the Timucua Native Americans. From their settlement they fished, hunted, and farmed. When the Spanish landed they were greeted warmly by the natives, who even gave them the Chief’s council house for their use as a base. The