Thanksgiving has become increasingly commercialized since its origins in the 17th century. The history behind the holiday is often unknown to those who celebrate it.

Thanksgiving began long before the Pilgrims came to the Americas.

Even before the early Europeans arrived, Native Americans performed ritualistic dances and ceremonies to ensure a good harvest for the year.

When the Pilgrims arrived, the Wampanog tribe taught the new settlers how to grow crops, build shelters and survive in the New World.

The Pilgrims later celebrated the first successful harvest with the tribe by holding a three-day feast, marking the first Thanksgiving.

Popular foods at the feast included venison, pheasant, geese and duck. Turkey is a modern addition to the Thanksgiving table and may not have been served at the time. Cranberries, onions and currants were served in addition to pumpkin, squash and corn, which were grown by the Wampanog tribe.

Thus, the tradition of the Thanksgiving feast was born.

Originally a Puritan holiday of fasting and prayer, days of thanksgiving were declared in celebration of harvests, victorious battles and rain after droughts.

In 1863, President Abraham Lincoln declared the last Thursday of November to be the official celebration of Thanksgiving in an attempt to unify the nation during the Civil War.

The tradition of the Thanksgiving football game began in the early 20th century with the Detroit Lions, who held a game on Thanksgiving for the purpose of boosting attendance.

As the commercialization of the holiday progressed, many stores and businesses seized the opportunity to sell their products and services. With the increasing popularity of store-sponsored Thanksgiving parades, many people were already in shopping districts. Businesses took advantage of the hordes of people and held extreme sales, known today as Black Friday, the Friday after Thanksgiving.

Although the holiday of festivity and gratitude has become modernized over the years, its origins and purpose were genuine and heartfelt and must not be forgotten in the hustle and bustle of the season.