When Americans think of Thanksgiving, the image of Pilgrims and Native Americans sharing a meal in Plymouth in 1621 often comes to mind. However, history tells a richer, less-known tale of a thanksgiving that took place decades earlier in St. Augustine, Florida.
This first recorded Thanksgiving in North America, celebrated by Spanish settlers and the native Timucua tribe, occurred on September 8, 1565 — a full 56 years before the Pilgrims sat down with the Wampanoag in Massachusetts.
A Spanish Landing and a Mass of Gratitude
The story begins with Pedro Menéndez de Avilés, a Spanish admiral and explorer who established the first permanent European settlement in what would become the United States. On a humid September day, Menéndez and his group of 800 settlers disembarked at a site they named St. Augustine, in honor of the saint whose feast day had just passed. Menéndez, carrying the banner of Spain, planted a cross in the sand, signaling both the arrival of European settlers and the spread of Christianity in the New World.
Father Francisco López de Mendoza Grajales, the colony’s priest, led the settlers in a Catholic Mass of Thanksgiving, thanking God for their safe journey and newfound land. This religious act, a hallmark of Spanish colonization, was the first communal expression of faith and gratitude on the continent.
Father López later documented the scene, noting that the local Timucan Indians, curious about the settlers, watched and mimicked their actions during the ceremony.
Father Francisco Lopez De Mendoza Grajales’s statue is on the grounds of the Nombre de Dios Mission in St. Augustine, Florida, USA. Father Lopez was the first pastor of St. Augustine, the first parish priest in this land. The statue portrays Father Lopez in priestly vestments preaching the Gospel. The statue was dedicated on April 13, 1958.
Photo: UNF Digital Commons
Breaking Bread: The First Feast
Following the Mass, the Spanish invited their Timucua neighbors to a communal meal. Historical records and ship inventories give us clues about what was on the menu. The Spaniards likely prepared cocido, a traditional Spanish stew made with salted pork, garbanzo beans, and garlic, along with hard sea biscuits and red wine brought from their ships.
If the Timucua contributed to the meal, they may have offered local staples such as turkey, venison, gopher tortoise, mullet, drum, and maize. These additions highlighted the blending of Old World and New World cuisines — a tradition that continues to shape American culinary culture.
Unlike the Pilgrims’ celebration, which emphasized a successful harvest, the St. Augustine gathering marked a spiritual and cultural exchange. It symbolized a momentary unity between two vastly different cultures, celebrating survival and community.
A Legacy Overshadowed
Despite its historical significance, this first Thanksgiving did not evolve into a national tradition. The colonial history of the United States has largely been shaped by its British roots, and the story of the 1621 Pilgrim feast gained prominence as the prototype of Thanksgiving due to the eventual dominance of English culture in North America.
By the 18th century, Spanish Florida had ceded to British control, and narratives tied to Spanish colonization were overshadowed. The Pilgrims’ feast — reinforced by folklore, art, and education — became the widely accepted origin of Thanksgiving.
In 1863, amidst the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln solidified Thanksgiving’s place in American culture by declaring a National Day of Thanksgiving on the last Thursday of November. This proclamation further enshrined the English Puritan version of the holiday.
St. Augustine Today: Honoring the True First Thanksgiving
Today, the city of St. Augustine honors its role in Thanksgiving history at the Mission of Nombre de Dios, where the 1565 feast is believed to have taken place. A 250-foot cross stands at the site, commemorating the settlers’ landing and their thanksgiving celebration.
Each year, reenactments and historical programs in St. Augustine bring the story of the Spanish settlers and the Timucua people to life. These events aim to educate the public about the diverse origins of Thanksgiving and the broader history of European settlement in the Americas.
While the Plymouth story remains a cornerstone of American identity, acknowledging the St. Augustine Thanksgiving invites us to expand our understanding of the holiday. It serves as a reminder that the United States’ history is a tapestry woven from many cultures, each contributing to the traditions we celebrate today.
The Thanksgiving of 1565 was more than a meal; it was a moment of connection between peoples navigating a new and uncertain world. By revisiting this chapter, we enrich our appreciation for a holiday rooted not just in gratitude but in cultural exchange and mutual recognition.
