Did Texas Host the First Thanksgiving?

*This question causes all manner of argument. There was a feast close to El Paso 20 years before the traditional feast in Plymouth. But was it a harvest feast? It was a feast of giving thanks and native Americans were invited. VL


By Andrew Weber, KUT (4.5 minute read)  kut-austin-logo

It’s common knowledge that in 1621 the first Thanksgiving was celebrated at Plymouth.

But some say the “real” first Thanksgiving took place over 20 years before near present day El Paso, when at least 400 Spaniards, in an exploration led by Juan de Oñate, feasted with the Mansos tribe.

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Like any good Thanksgiving discussion, there’s a thread of discord sown through that narrative. While everyone recognizes its importance in the history of North America, some argue that, unlike the feast at Plymouth, it’s not a harvest festival.

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[Photo courtesy of The University of Texas at El Paso Library, Via Jose Cisneros]

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