Question of the Day: How do you think the Pilgrims would feel about the way we celebrate Thanksgiving?

November 27, 2025

If the Pilgrims time-traveled into a modern American Thanksgiving, I think their first question would be something along the lines of: “Why is that giant balloon shaped like a dog floating above the city?” Followed closely by, “Why is everyone yelling at the television?” And then, after taking a long look at the dinner table: “What in God’s name is that cylindrical red jelly you’re slicing like a dessert?”

Honestly, the Pilgrims would be confused, concerned, and probably a little amused, in that order.

Because Thanksgiving today is… a lot. It’s chaos wrapped in tradition wrapped in commercialism wrapped in whatever casserole your aunt insists is a “family recipe” even though she definitely found it on Pinterest last night.

But underneath all the nonsense, the parades, the turduckens, the football, the Black Friday sales that start before you even finish chewing, I think they’d recognize something familiar. Something human.

People gathering.

People sharing food.

People trying, however clumsily, to say “thanks.”

Let’s break this down.

If the Pilgrims walked into your house on Thanksgiving morning, the first thing they’d notice is abundance. More food on one table than most of them saw in an entire season. Mashed potatoes, stuffing, casseroles with crunchy things on top, six types of pie, and that one dish no one touches but everyone pretends to like so the cook’s feelings don’t get hurt.

They’d also be bewildered by how fast everything is.

Black Friday sales brawls.

Air fryers that cook entire turkeys.

Cars that get you across a state faster than they used to row across a bay.

They’d probably ask, “Why is everyone in such a hurry?”

And honestly? Good question.

But I think after the shock wore off, after they tasted pumpkin pie (which would blow their minds), after they saw families gathering, laughing, arguing, forgiving, and eating until buttons pop… they’d understand what we’re doing.

We took their harvest meal, stretched it out, made it weirder, bigger, louder, and more complicated — but the heart of it is still beating.

Thanksgiving today is about trying.

Trying to gather.

Trying to pause.

Trying to remember the good in a world that is very good at reminding us of the bad.

Trying to say, “Thanks,” even when we forget most of the year.

Would they recognize the holiday? Not really.

Would they approve of everything we’ve added? Probably not.

Would they think it’s excessive? Oh absolutely.

Would they crush a slice of pie and ask for seconds? Without question.

But here’s the important part:

I think they’d be moved that, four centuries later, we’re still gathering at the same time of year to say the same thing: we’re grateful, we’re here, and we’re together.

That’s the tradition that survived.

Everything else is just seasoning.

👉 Read the full blog post where I answer this Question of the Day and share the Thought of the Day

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💬 Your Turn

So… how do you think the Pilgrims would feel?

Confused? Entertained? Hungry? Writing a Yelp review?

Share your truth in the comments, someone else is definitely thinking the same ridiculous thing.