Forget Plymouth Rock or wherever it was the Pilgrims had their party, the first Thanksgiving actually happened years before right here in El Chuco.
The Pilgrims and the Indians got together in 1621 to share their harvests and knock back a few brews. (Yes, the Pilgrims had beer … lots of it.) The annual Dallas Cowboys football game came later. Spanish explorer Juan de Oñate had held a Thanksgiving of his own near El Paso over 20 years earlier though.
Juan De Onate and his father had done several solids for the king of Spain and, as a reward, Juan was given a bunch of land in the northern Rio Grande valley. In 1598, he, along with about 500 people, (soldiers, colonists, wives and children), and 7,000 animals set out across the Chihuahuan Desert.
The First Thanksgiving
For almost 2 months they dealt with natures worst. First, relentless rain then no water at all. Over the last few days of the journey, they ran out of food and water completely. Near death, the party came across the Rio Grande and were saved…