Myth: Thanksgiving Has Been Celebrated Since the 1600s

Americans haven’t continuously celebrated Thanksgiving since its first iteration in 1621. In fact, there are few surviving details of the earliest Thanksgiving celebration; according to some historians, that’s because colonists didn’t view the meal as a new tradition. While Thanksgiving-like events occasionally occurred in the century after, it wasn’t until 1789 that George Washington began the trend of Presidents declaring official days of autumnal celebration. Even then, Thanksgiving didn’t become a national holiday until 1863, when a campaign for its recognition was supported by President Abraham Lincoln.

Myth: Colonists Who Arrived on the Mayflower Were Called Pilgrims

“Pilgrim” is the term we commonly use today to refer to the European settlers who ventured across the Atlantic, though that’s not what passengers on the Mayflower went by. Those who boarded the ship to start a new life in North America referred to themselves as “saints” or “separatists” because of their division from the Church of England. Later on, the colonists would be called “first-comers” or “forefathers,” until around 1800, when the term “pilgrim” emerged, and stuck.

Myth: Thanksgiving Has Always Been Held in November

The earliest national observances of Thanksgiving didn’t follow a pattern; instead of occurring on a predictable date, the timing of the holiday was left up to the President. As noted above, George Washington was the first President to acknowledge Thanksgiving, designating Thursday, November 26, 1789, as a day of prayer and gratitude. However, Thomas Jefferson refused to declare a date, citing a conflict of church and state. And in 1815, fourth President James Madison set Thanksgiving for April of that year. While November celebrations were typical, Thanksgiving didn’t get its official designation as the fourth Thursday of the month until 1941.