Thanksgiving is a perfectly American-held tradition. An early celebration can be found in 1619, coming off the ship Margaret of Bristol, arriving in Jamestown, VA with 36 surviving Englishmen. Their charter declared Thanks to God for their safe arrival and the continuation of their offspring.

A time later, most famously, the Mayflower landed up North, establishing Plymouth Colony, celebrating their Thanksgiving in 1621. And they had a lot to be grateful for. Of the 102 passengers on the Mayflower, nearly half perished. Of the remaining, only 51 bore children, who alone went on to become over 85,000 three centuries later.

Today, there are over 30 million connected descendants from that one single ship, and millions from the others. Those of Colonial descent belong to a rich, powerful Nation, one that excels in science and business up North, and breeds soldiers and statements down South. Be thankful for your blood and the struggle it has gone through.