Before Tennessee: Thanksgiving in the Age of Exploration
As families across Jefferson County prepare for Thanksgiving, it’s worth pausing to reflect on the holiday’s origins—long before Tennessee was a state, before Jefferson County was founded, and even before the Appalachian frontier was mapped. The story of Thanksgiving begins not in the hills of East Tennessee, but on the rocky shores of New England, where a small band of English settlers gathered in 1621 to give thanks for survival, harvest, and unexpected friendship.
The First Thanksgiving: 1621
The Pilgrims who landed at Plymouth Rock in 1620 were not the first Europeans in North America, but they were among the most determined. Fleeing religious persecution, they arrived in a harsh winter that claimed nearly half their number. By the following fall, with the help of the Wampanoag people—especially Tisquantum, known as Squanto—they had learned to grow corn, hunt game, and adapt to the land.
That autumn, the settlers and their Native allies shared a three-day feast. It wasn’t called “Thanksgiving” at the time, and it bore little resemblance to today’s turkey-and-pie traditions. But it marked a moment of gratitude, resilience, and cultural exchange that would echo through centuries.
Meanwhile, in the Land That Would Become Tennessee…
In 1621, the region we now call Jefferson County was still deep wilderness—home to dense forests, winding rivers, and the ancestral lands of the Cherokee and other Indigenous peoples. European maps barely scratched the surface of the interior. The Tennessee River had no name in English, and the Smoky Mountains stood untouched by colonial boots.
While the Pilgrims were planting corn in Massachusetts, the future site of Dandridge lay silent, its hills and valleys shaped only by nature and Native tradition. It would be more than 150 years before settlers arrived in earnest, carving homesteads into the frontier and forming the communities that would become Jefferson County.
A Long Road to Statehood
Tennessee wouldn’t become a state until 1796, and Jefferson County was officially established in 1792. By then, Thanksgiving had evolved through various colonial observances, often tied to military victories or harvests. It wasn’t until President Abraham Lincoln’s 1863 proclamation—during the depths of the Civil War—that Thanksgiving became a national holiday.
Even then, the way Tennesseans celebrated was shaped by local customs, frontier realities, and the rugged spirit of Appalachian life. But the core idea—pausing to give thanks—remained.
Why It Matters Today
Understanding the roots of Thanksgiving helps us appreciate the long arc of American history, from coastal colonies to mountain counties. It reminds us that gratitude is not bound by geography or era. Whether shared around a campfire in 1790 or a kitchen table in 2025, Thanksgiving is a moment to honor survival, community, and the blessings of the land.
In the coming weeks, we’ll explore how early settlers in Tennessee adapted Thanksgiving to frontier life, how Indigenous traditions shaped the region, and how Jefferson County families have kept the spirit alive across generations.
Stay tuned—and stay thankful.
