Texas Had Thanksgiving First

Send us Fan Mail  Description: Hey y’all, it’s Tweed Scott from The Texan Edge. Sure, everybody knows about the Pilgrims and their fancy Thanksgiving back in Massachusetts—but did you know the first recorded Thanksgiving on American soil happened right here in Texas? Yep. In 1598, long before the Mayflower set sail, Spanish explorer Juan de Oñate led a desperate expedition through the Chihuahuan Desert. When his crew finally reached the Rio Grande near present-day El Paso, they gave thanks with a feast of game, water, and prayer—no cranberry sauce required. This episode reminds us that real gratitude isn’t about the setting or the menu—it’s about survival, grace, and a thankful heart that’s still beating after a hard journey. Take a minute this Thanksgiving week to give thanks not for perfection, but for endurance. Because gratitude—like Texas history—runs deep.  Show Notes: The first Thanksgiving in America? It wasn’t in Plymouth—it was in Texas.Spanish explorer Juan de Oñate, 1598, and the Rio Grande near modern-day El Paso.“El Día de Acción de Gracias” was a feast born out of struggle and survival.Gratitude doesn’t need fine china—it starts when your heart’s ready.A reminder to be thankful for the simple fact that you made it this far.Takeaway: Thanksgiving isn’t about when the food’s ready—it’s about when your heart is. This isn't just a podcast, it's a Texas state of mind.