We are Thankful for
Our Friends,
Our Family,
Our Country,
The World,
Trees and Rocks,
Food and Water,
Native Americans and Buffalo,
Good Air.

Thank You, God,
and America."

The History of Thanksgiving

The American Thanksgiving holiday comes from
the Pilgrims,
a religious group settling in the New World –
who left England for religious freedom,
went to Holland,
then left Holland for religious freedom in America.
They sailed on the Mayflower September 6, 1620
from Plymouth, England.
Forty-four on board called themselves "Saints"
and 66 passengers called themselves "Strangers."
The voyage lasted 65 days and they arrived cold and sick.

Due to arguments aboard ship between
the Saints and the Strangers,
a pact was made that gave equality to all...
it was called The Mayflower Compact.
Unified by the pact, they decided to call themselves
"Pilgrims."
The Pilgrims suffered a terrible first winter in America.
Of the 110 pilgrims and crew,
only 50 survived that first terrible winter.

Supposedly the Pilgrims dressed in dark or black clothing
designed to bring no special attention to themselves,
to separate one individual from another.
They lived very simply and studied the Bible daily.
A copy of the Geneva Bible was brought to America
on the Mayflower by William Bradford.
(The first Bible was not printed in America until 1777.)

Samoset, an Abnaki Indian, befriended the Pilgrims.
He and his friend Squanto(who had been to Europe)
taught the pilgrims
how to tap the maple trees for sap,
how to plant Indian Corn...how to fertilize the corn,
fruits and vegetables with decaying fish...
which plants were poisonous,
which could be used for medicines.
Thus informed and helped, the Pilgrims enjoyed a very
successful harvest that year.
They were grateful and overjoyed.

Governor William Bradford was so pleased he proclaimed
a day of feasting and thanksgiving for
all the colonists and Native Americans.
The Chief Massasoit and 90 other Braves came to the feast,
which lasted 3 days! What a huge celebration.

It became a custom to celebrate a day of thanksgiving
every year....called Thanksgiving Day.
In 1817, New York officially adopted a Thanksgiving Day.

In 1863, President Abraham Lincoln appointed
a national Thanksgiving Day.
Since then, there has been an official Thanksgiving Day
in The United States.
It is usually the fourth Thursday of November every year.
Thanksgiving is not a religious holiday.

The traditional Thanksgiving dinner is baked turkey,
stuffing, rice or mashed potatoes, green beans,
cranberry sauce...and pumpkin pie.
Every year several million turkeys are eaten
on Thanksgiving Day!!!!
Most schools and churches collect food for
the homeless and needy, and serve dinners to the poor.
Public schools close for two days, Wednesday and Thursday;
Government offices are closed.
Our hearts and minds fill with gratitude
for all life's blessings
as we celebrate this special holiday
about gratitude, sharing, and caring.
**essay by mb November 2, 1998

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