From left, Aurora Vasquez, Ana Villeda and Tammy Roberson perform a traditional Spanish dance during the First Thanksgiving reenactment held Saturday at San Elizario. Photo by Heather Wilburn.
Giving thanks in San Elizario
Reenactment celebrates first Thanksgiving held in U.S.
Each year, the El Paso Mission Trail Association sponsors an event that recognizes what they consider the nation’s first Thanksgiving: a celebration held between Spanish explorer Don Juan de Oñate, the settlers, soldiers and clergymen traveling with him, and Native American people of the San Elizario area. The event took place April 30, 1598, 23 years before the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth Rock.
Organizers estimate about 700 visitors turned out for the annual First Thanksgiving reenactment held Saturday in San Elizario.
Mykl Rodrigues, right, as Don Juan de Oñate, dances with a Native American girl played by Andie Alshouse during the First Thanksgiving celebration Saturday in San Elizario. Photo by Heather Wilburn.
“As far as we know, it was a great success,” said Ben Sanchez, executive director of the El Paso Mission Trail Association. “It went through the night, until midnight, and the people and vendors there were very pleased.”
Alicia Cortez said she brings her 5-year-old son Ricky to the event every year.
“It’s beautiful out here, and you just feel everything is important, the history of it all,” she said. “It’s want to teach my son about this because it’s part of his culture, and his history.”
Werner Steinig said he had been down the Mission Trail before, but this was the first time he had seen the reenactment. Before he came, he said, he was surprised and wondered how a Thanksgiving reenactment could take place in April.
A Spanish settler woman begs Don Juan de Oñate to stop for water during the First Thanksgiving reenactment held Saturday in San Elizario. Photo by Heather Wilburn.
“But it was all explained, and therefore it makes sense,” he said. “I think it’s a great thing to learn about the culture and the history of the area, especially how it grew up and to see how the Native Americans and Spaniards came together and what they made from it.”