Why do Americans celebrate Thanksgiving?

Summary

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Podcast Summary: "Why Do Americans Celebrate Thanksgiving?"

Podcast: Who Smarted?
Host: Trusty Narrator (Atomic Entertainment / Starglow Media)
Episode Date: November 24, 2025

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Main Theme

This episode explores the origins, history, and traditions of Thanksgiving in America—mixing humor, trivia, and quirky storytelling to explain how the holiday evolved, what foods were (and weren’t) served at the first Thanksgiving, and how it became a beloved national tradition.

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Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Welcoming Fall and the Joys of Thanksgiving

• The episode opens with the Trusty Narrator reveling in the cozy joys of fall—snuggly sweaters, pumpkin picking, and, above all, the anticipation of Thanksgiving.
• A talking gravy boat named Grady (voiced with playful banter) joins the discussion, setting the stage for a whimsical journey through Thanksgiving’s history.
  • Memorable Moment: Grady’s first words: “Obviously the turkey. Because it’s the one time of year I get to perform the one task I was designed for. Smothering the meat in luscious, sweet, succulent, thick, brown gravy.” (03:19)

2. The True Story of the First Thanksgiving

• Where and When:
  • Most widely accepted as occurring in Plymouth, Massachusetts in 1621.
  • Pilgrims arrived on the Mayflower from England in 1620; their first year was harsh, but a successful corn harvest led them to celebrate and give thanks.
    • Quote: “It took 66 days. It was a rough journey, and life in the new land was tough once they arrived.” (05:26)
• Who was there?
  • The feast was shared by Pilgrims and the Wampanoag Native Americans, spanning several days of celebration.
  • Exact roles and activities are unclear, but both groups participated.
• What did they eat?
  • No pumpkin pie (no butter, flour, or ovens).
  • Likely foods: roast turkey, pumpkin (but not pie), venison (deer), and plenty of seafood—including shellfish, lobster, crabs, and notably, eels.
    • Memorable Moment: “Seafood on Thanksgiving? … for the love of pumpkin spice. Why?” (07:40)

3. Did Plymouth Really Host the First Thanksgiving?

• Earlier Thanksgiving-like ceremonies took place:
  • 1619: English settlers in Virginia celebrated a day of thanks (more religious in nature).
  • 1598: Spanish explorers in Florida held a thanksgiving feast.
• But the 1621 Plymouth gathering best resembled modern Thanksgiving.
  • Quote: “So if you’re looking at it in terms of how it resembles the Thanksgiving of today, then 1621 is the unofficial official first Thanksgiving.” (08:46)

4. From Obscure Tradition to National Holiday

• Early Slow Spread: Thanksgiving was mainly a Northeastern tradition for a long time.
• Presidential Proclamation: George Washington issued the first Thanksgiving proclamation in 1789.
• Major Advocate: Sarah Josepha Hale, the magazine editor who wrote “Mary Had a Little Lamb,” campaigned for a national holiday by writing articles and letters to government officials.
  • By 1854, over 30 states had adopted Thanksgiving, but it wasn’t nationwide.
  • Crucial Year: In 1863, after decades of Sarah’s advocacy, Abraham Lincoln declared Thanksgiving a national holiday—set for the fourth Thursday of November, hoping it would help unify the country during the Civil War.
    • Quote: “He declared Thanksgiving a national holiday… adding that it would be celebrated on the fourth Thursday of each November.” (11:21)

5. The Evolution of Thanksgiving Food Traditions

• Stuffing:
  • Originally, early Americans would roast turkeys on a spit over a fire, so they stuffed the bird with bread and veggies to cook side dishes at the same time.
    • Fact: Stuffing became a tradition before modern ovens.
• Cranberry Sauce:
  • Native Americans used cranberries for meat sauces; English settlers picked up the habit by 1672.
• Sweet Potato Casserole with Marshmallows:
  • Marshmallows were popularized by the French in the 19th century.
  • The Angelus Marshmallow Company released a 1917 cookbook featuring the now-famous marshmallow sweet potato casserole—originally as an ad to sell more marshmallows.
    • Memorable Quote: “Are you saying sweet potato casserole was invented by big marshmallow as a way to sell more marshmallows?” (15:01)
• Gravy:
  • Gravy is as old as the 14th century, made from the drippings of meat thickened with flour or cornstarch.
    • Quote: “Gravy is perfect for a dry meat like turkey and is a true classic that’s been around since at least the 14th century.” (15:23)

6. Notable “Who Smarted?” Touches

• Interactive Trivia: The host involves kids by asking trivia questions throughout the episode (“Where did the Pilgrims come from?” “What is venison?”).
• Comic Relief & Relatable Humor: Running jokes about Grady the gravy boat only coming out once a year and refusing to serve eel gravy (“Sorry, I don’t want eels at Thanksgiving. Even if they’re covered in gravy.”).
• Pop Culture References: The host plugs the marshmallow episode and makes playful ‘dad jokes’ (“Let’s chew-chew. Get it?” (15:14)).

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

| Timestamp | Speaker | Quote/Moment | |-----------|-----------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 03:19 | Grady (Gravy Boat) | “Smothering the meat in luscious, sweet, succulent, thick, brown gravy.” | | 05:26 | Grady | “It took 66 days. It was a rough journey, and life in the new land was tough once they arrived.” | | 07:40 | Narrator & Grady | “Seafood on Thanksgiving? … for the love of pumpkin spice. Why?” | | 08:46 | Grady | “So if you’re looking at it in terms of how it resembles the Thanksgiving of today, then 1621 is the unofficial official first Thanksgiving.” | | 11:21 | Grady | “He declared Thanksgiving a national holiday, adding that it would be celebrated on the fourth Thursday of each November.” | | 15:01 | Narrator | “Are you saying sweet potato casserole was invented by big marshmallow as a way to sell more marshmallows.” | | 15:23 | Grady | “Gravy is perfect for a dry meat like turkey and is a true classic that’s been around since at least the 14th century.” |

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Timestamps for Significant Segments

• 01:13 – 04:14: Fall traditions, introducing Thanksgiving, meeting Grady the Gravy Boat
• 04:14 – 06:46: History of the Pilgrims, arrival in Plymouth, the hardships, and the first harvest
• 06:46 – 08:00: Foods at the first Thanksgiving, including venison and seafood
• 08:00 – 09:33: Early precedents for Thanksgiving, its gradual spread, George Washington’s proclamation
• 09:33 – 11:39: Sarah Josepha Hale’s campaign, Abraham Lincoln’s national declaration
• 13:23 – 15:23: How Thanksgiving foods (stuffing, cranberries, sweet potatoes, gravy) came to be

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Tone & Style

• Playful, humorous, and highly interactive: The episode keeps a light and cheerful tone, uses silly voices (e.g., Grady the Gravy Boat), and directly involves the kids with questions and sound effects.
• Educational but never dull: Complex historical facts are broken down with jokes, puns, and relatable comparisons.

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For New Listeners

This episode offers a thorough yet entertaining crash-course on why and how Thanksgiving is celebrated in America. With its blend of history, trivia, fun facts, and friendly characters—including a fast-talking gravy boat—you’ll learn not just about the “who, what, when, and why,” but also how today’s Thanksgiving meal evolved over centuries. Ideal for young learners and curious families!

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Transcript

[A]

Hey, smarty pants and smarty families. So today I was supposed to bring you the sad news that this would be the last day of our Special Happy Birthday. 50% off WhoSmarted plus subscription. But guess what? With Thanksgiving and Black Friday coming up, I just had to extend it another couple of weeks. So now you have until the end of November to sign up for WhoSmarted plus and get an entire year of smarting ad free, including a brand new subscriber only bonus episode every single week for just $19.98. That's right. For just $1.66 a month, you'll be supporting the show and giving the gift of smarting to the smartypants in your life just in time for the holidays. You can't even get a decent slice of pizza for $1.66. So what do you say? Go to our website, WhoSmarted.com and click Birthday Subscribe Today. That's WhoSmarted.com. click Birthday subscribe. This is only available on our [e-mail] you and I and all your friends at WhoSmarted will be glad you did. And happy holidays. And now it's time for who's Smarted?

[B]

Psst.

[A]

Hey, smarty pants. I am so excited that it's fall. How about you, smarty pants? Do you like the fall? Sure. It might not be as fun as swimming in the summer or sledding in the winter or sneezing in the spring, but the fall is pretty cool. You get to put on snuggly sweaters. You can go apple and pumpkin picking, and the trees turn such pretty colors. Right now, I'm in the New England section of the United States of America doing some leaf peeping. Oh, look at that bright orange leaf. Oh, that red one. Oh, and there's a pretty yellow one. But as much as I dig sweaters, apples, and leaves, the thing I love most about the fall is Thanksgiving. In fact, Thanksgiving might just be your trusty narrator's favorite holiday. Sure, there isn't candy like Halloween or presents like some other popular holidays, but Thanksgiving is about the food. There's turkey, stuffing, yams, green bean casserole with crunchy stuff on top, pumpkin pie and gravy. Oh, yeah, can't forget the gravy. Thanks. Ah, it's a talking gravy boat. You know, I really should be used to stuff talking to me by now. Um, how's it going?

[B]

Great. How are you?

[A]

Uh, fine. Dare I ask if you have a name?

[B]

Of course. It's Grady.

[A]

Nice meeting you, Grady. The Gravy boat. I'm the trusty narrator.

[B]

Hey, I've heard of you. I also couldn't help but overhear you talking about Thanksgiving. I just had to hop on down off my shelf in the china hutch. Nobody ever looks except on Thanksgiving, and come say hi.

[A]

Oh, I see. So you live around here?

[B]

Yep, in the dining room of that house across the street.

[A]

And you heard me mention Thanksgiving from all the way over there?

[B]

I've got excellent hearing.

[A]

Impressive, considering you don't have ears.

[B]

That's how much I love Thanksgiving. When I hear the word I am there.

[A]

Me too. So what do you like most about Thanksgiving, Grady?

[B]

Oh, gosh, it's hard to pick just one thing. Obviously the turkey. Because it's the one time of year I get to perform the one task I was designed for. Smothering the meat in luscious, sweet, succulent, thick, brown gravy.

[A]

Oh man, now I'm hungry. Of course, there's more to Thanksgiving than just the food. Smartypants, what do you know about the fascinating history of Thanksgiving?

[B]

Uh huh.

[A]

I'm hearing some of you mentioning the Pilgrims, the Mayflower, and giving thanks for the harvest.

[B]

Ah, but there's so much more.

[A]

So when was the first Thanksgiving? Who attended it, and what foods were served versus what you eat on Thanksgiving? Today it's time to give thanks for another whiff of history on who's smarted, who's smarted, who's smart?

[B]

Is it you?

[A]

Is it me? Is it science or history? Listen up, everyone. We make smarting lots of fun. But who's smart?

[B]

And come on, follow me.

[A]

Wow, Grady, for someone who doesn't even have legs, you sure are fast. Where have you led us?

[B]

To Plymouth, Massachusetts. This is where the first Thanksgiving took place in 1621.

[A]

Really?

[B]

Well, maybe more on that later. But the most widely accepted origin is that the first Thanksgiving happened here. Remember how you mentioned the Pilgrims a minute ago?

[A]

Well, me and the smarty pants.

[B]

Right. Well, the Pilgrims were the first settlers who sailed to what is now the United States aboard the Mayflower in 1620.

[A]

Hey, smarty pants, do you know where the Pilgrims came from? Was it France, England or Ireland? If you guessed England, you're right.

[B]

Yep, they sailed all the way from England. It took 66 days. It was a rough journey, and life in the new land was tough once they arrived. I mean, think about it. There was nothing here for them. Well, except lots of wilderness, wild animals and illness. A lot of people from the ship didn't even survive the first year, but about a Year later, in the fall of 1621, their first corn harvest was successful. From there, they grew corn as far as the eye can see. And under the instruction of Governor William Bradford, they decided to celebrate the harvest and the fact that they survived their first year by giving thanks. And that's how we got Thanksgiving.

[A]

So how did they celebrate? Was it a big dinner like today? And who was there? And oh, oh, oh, was there pumpkin pie?

[B]

There definitely was no pumpkin pie. They didn't have butter or flour or ovens. But it was a big celebration between the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag. Native Americans. We don't know exactly what roles the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag had during the feast, but we do have recorded accounts that they celebrated the harvest together for several.

[A]

In fact, why can't Thanksgiving last for several days now?

[B]

Um, I've seen how you eat trusty. I don't think you'd survive Thanksgiving.

[A]

Good point. It sure sounds like they had quite a party.

[B]

Oh, yeah. And even though there was no pumpkin pie, there's a good chance they enjoyed pumpkin itself, as well as turkey, since there were a lot of wild turkeys around back then. And one thing we know they ate for sure is venison.

[A]

Smarty pants, do you know what venison is? Did you say deer? Yep, that's right.

[B]

They also ate a food that might surprise you.

[A]

Really?

[B]

Yep. What's something you would never associate with Thanksgiving today, like, at all?

[A]

Um, gummy bears, Egg salad. Fish sticks.

[B]

Close. Seafood.

[A]

Seafood on Thanksgiving?

[B]

Yep. We're pretty sure they serve fish, shellfish, like lobster and crabs, and even eels at that first Thanksgiving for the love of pumpkin spice. Why? They ate what they had. And since they were on the North Atlantic coast, there was plenty of fresh fish, shellfish and eels.

[A]

Sorry, I don't want eels at Thanksgiving. Even if they're covered in gravy. Moving on. Earlier, you said Plymouth might not have been where the first Thanksgiving was.

[B]

Some historic accounts say it happened earlier in Virginia in 1619. Others claim it was actually Spanish explorers that celebrated a type of Thanksgiving down in Florida back in 1598.

[A]

Ah, so which is it?

[B]

Well, all of them happened, but they were all different. For example, the one in 1619 with more of a religious ceremony. So if you're looking at it in terms of how it resembles the Thanksgiving of today, then 1621 is the unofficial official first Thanksgiving.

[A]

Gotcha. And then it caught on everywhere. Because everyone loves Thanksgiving, right?

[B]

Wrong. It didn't catch on, certainly not everywhere. For a long time, Thanksgiving was only common in the Northeast, it wasn't until 1789 that a certain US President issued the first ever Thanksgiving proclamation.

[A]

Oh, Any guesses which president that was, smarty pants? Was it Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, or George Washington? If you said good old George Washington, you're right. And then everyone loved Thanksgiving, right?

[B]

Wrong.

[A]

Really? I can't believe it took so long to get popular. It's the best holiday.

[B]

Hey, you don't gotta convince me. But it wasn't the case back then. At least not until a certain lady came along in the 1800s who loved Thanksgiving as much as we do. Maybe even more.

[A]

More?

[B]

More.

[A]

Trust me, there's nobody who likes Thanksgiving more than me.

[B]

I don't know, Sarah. Josepha Hale was an influential magazine editor and the editor of Godey's Lady Book which was one most popular publications in the whole country. She also wrote a very famous poem. I'll give you a hint. It's about a girl who has a farm animal. A little farm animal. And it's one of the first songs you learn to play on piano.

[A]

Let's see. Girl, farm animal, piano. Hmm. Smartypants. Any ideas? Shout em out. How about one more hint, Grady?

[B]

Fine. The girl's name is Mary.

[A]

Oh, I got it. Mary had a little lamb.

[B]

Congratulations. I practically gave it to you.

[A]

Thanks. But what does that have to do with Thanksgiving? Don't tell me she ate her lamb for Thanksgiving.

[B]

No, but she did love Thanksgiving. And she was a big time magazine editor. She started writing articles in her magazine and spreading the word about Thanksgiving. She also wrote letters to government officials asking them to make it a national holiday. By 1854, more than 30 states did celebrate Thanksgiving. But Sarah was such a fan, she wanted the whole country to celebrate. And in 1863, her hard work finally paid off.

[A]

What happened in 1863?

[B]

Sarah wrote to the office of Abraham Lincoln. He was so moved, he declared Thanksgiving a national holiday, adding that it would be celebrated on the fourth Thursday of each November. Interestingly, the Civil War was being fought then and Lincoln thought Thanksgiving might help unify the country.

[A]

Gotcha. So that's how it all started. But how did we wind up with the foods most people eat on Thanksgiving today?

[B]

Great question.

[A]

And the answer is coming up right after this quick break. Hey, Trusty here. You know what's cool? Having your own smartwatch that lets you call and text your friends and family, play awesome games, and even use kidsafe chat to get answers to the kinds of questions I know you love. Like how do birds fly? Or why is the sky blue? That's what Pinwheel's smartwatch does. It's designed just for kids so you can call your parents when you need a ride, text your best friend about weekend plans, play fun games, and use the kids safe chat to learn cool new things without any of the stuff you don't need. Parents. You'll love this part. You control who your kid could contact. No strangers. No spam. You can set screen time schedules for school and homework, check messages remotely and track the location with built in gps. Plus you decide what apps they can access. As your kid grows, Pinwheel grows with them. Start simple, then unlock more features when they're ready. It's why Pinwheel was named the number one kids phone by Parents Magazine. This holiday, get up to 50% off with a quarterly or annual subscription plus free shipping and 30 day returns. Visit pinwheel.com smarted that's P-I N W H E-E-L.com smarted now back to who smarted okay, Grady, the gravy boat let's Talk turkey. And by that I mean let's talk traditional Thanksgiving food, like stuffing.

[B]

Sure, modern stove tops weren't widely available until the late 1700s. That meant early Americans had to roast their turkeys on a spit over an open fire. This made it difficult to cook side dishes at the same time, but if you stuffed bread and veggies into the turkey, you could cook everything together at once. So stuffing a turkey became a tradition.

[A]

Whoa. What about cranberry sauce? No, not the canned stuff. Although that's fun and yummy too.

[B]

Accounts from New England tell us some form of cranberry sauce existed as early as 1672. That's because the Native Americans grew cranberries to use as a sauce for meat. They likely influenced the English to do the same.

[A]

Ooh, you know what else I love?

[B]

Eels?

[A]

No. Sweet Potato Casserole with Marshmallows.

[B]

Ah, that might be a Thanksgiving classic today, but this one came much later than cranberry sauce. Over 200 years later, to be exact. See, people had already been eating sweet potatoes throughout the country, but marshmallows didn't become popular until the French got their hands on them in the 19th century.

[A]

Which you can learn all about on our who Smarted Marshmallow episode. Sorry, Shameless. Plug. Continue.

[B]

As marshmallows became popular in the U.S. the Angelus Marshmallow Company released a cookbook in 1917 with a recipe for marshmallow covered sweet potatoes. And the rest is history.

[A]

Hold on. Are you saying sweet potato casserole was invented by big marshmallow as a way to sell more marshmallows.

[B]

Yep. But enough about marshmallows. Let's hop on the gravy train.

[A]

Let's chew. Chew. Get it? A train says chew, but you also chew your food.

[B]

Amazing. And so is gravy. Making gravy is simple. Basically, gravy is a sauce made from the yummy juices that come out of meat that's been cooked. The liquid is then mixed with flour or cornstarch to thicken it, plus some herbs and spices, and voila. Gravy is perfect for a dry meat like turkey and is a true classic that's been around since at least the 14th century.

[A]

Yum. I could sure go for some right now. Let's get some gravy in you so we can get some gravy in me.

[B]

Sorry, Trusty, but I only get used on Thanksgiving. Back to the china hutch for me.

[A]

Man, that little gravy boat is fast. A thankful shout out to Asher and Carter in Arizona. You let us know you listen every morning on the way to school and especially love the animal and dessert episodes. Sounds like a feast of knowledge. Thanks for smarting with us, smarty pants. This episode Thanksgiving, was written by Phil My Stomach Jeremy and voiced by Phil Jeremy and Jerry Colbert. Technical direction and sound design by Josh Glazed Ham Hahn, who Smarted is recorded and mixed at the Relic Room studios. Our associate producer is Max Turkey Legs Kamasky. The theme song is by Brian Sweet Potato Suarez with lyrics written and performed by Adam Darkmeet Davis. Who's Smarted was created and produced by Adam Tex Davis and Jerry Colbert. This has been an Atomic Entertainment production. Who's Smarted.