The story of Thanksgiving started in 1760. Some English people sailed to America in a small ship. They were Pilgrims and the ship was the Mayflower. They wanted to start a new life in America.
The Pilgrims arrived in America. It rained and snowed, but the pilgrims loved America. The Native Americans helped and showed them how to plant their corn, wheat and barley. When spring arrived, there was lots of good food. In autumn there was a big party to give thanks to God for good food with the Native Americans and the Pilgrims. They cooked turkey as one of the main dishes.
Now Thanksgiving is an American national holiday. People in the United States celebrate Thanksgiving on the fourth Thursday in November. They eat turkey and a special pie made from pumpkin, to remember the pilgrims.