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Geketa 858 2080 Owenton	Thanksgiving Day History 11/20/2006 9:30:37 AM
	Thanksgiving Day History The Pilgrims who sailed to America were originally members of the English Separatist Church. Before going to America they had fled to Holland to escape religious persecution. Although, in Holland, they enjoyed more religious tolerance, but they eventually became disillusioned with the Dutch way of life. In the hope of a better life in, they took the help of a London stock company to move out to America. Most of those making this trip aboard the Mayflower were non-Separatists. Only about one-third of the original colonists were Separatists. They reached Plymouth in 1620. There, they had to face a terrible winter. Around 46 of the original 102 had died by the next fall. But fortune turned in their favor and the harvest of the next year was bumper. And the remaining colonists decided to celebrate with a feast -- including 91 Indians who had helped the Pilgrims survive their first year. It is believed that the Pilgrims would not have made it through the year without the help of the natives. The feast was more of a traditional English harvest festival than a true "thanksgiving" observance. It lasted three days. Governor William Bradford sent "four men fowling" after wild ducks and geese. It is not certain that wild turkey was part of their feast. However, it is certain that they had venison. The term "turkey" was used by the Pilgrims to mean any sort of wild fowl. Another modern staple at almost every Thanksgiving table is pumpkin pie. But it is unlikely that the first feast included that treat. The supply of flour had been long diminished, so there was no bread or pastries of any kind. However, they did eat boiled pumpkin, and they produced a type of fried bread from their corn crop. There was also no milk, cider, potatoes, or butter. There was no domestic cattle for dairy products, and the newly-discovered potato was still considered by many Europeans to be poisonous. But the feast did include fish, berries, watercress, lobster, dried fruit, clams, venison, and plums. This "thanksgiving" feast was not repeated the following year. But in 1623, during a severe drought, the pilgrims gathered in a prayer service, praying for rain. When a long, steady rain followed the very next day, Governor Bradford proclaimed another day of Thanksgiving, again inviting their Indian friends. It wasn't until June of 1676 that another Day of Thanksgiving was proclaimed. On June 20, 1676, the governing council of Charlestown, Massachusetts, held a meeting to determine how best to express thanks for the good fortune that had seen their community securely established. By unanimous vote they instructed Edward Rawson, the clerk, to proclaim June 29 as a day of thanksgiving. It is notable that this thanksgiving celebration probably did not include the Indians, as the celebration was meant partly to be in recognition of the colonists' recent victory over the "heathen natives". October of 1777 marked the first time that all 13 colonies joined in a thanksgiving celebration. It also commemorated the patriotic victory over the British at Saratoga. But it was a one-time affair. George Washington proclaimed a National Day of Thanksgiving in 1789, although some were opposed to it. There was discord among the colonies, many feeling the hardships of a few Pilgrims did not warrant a national holiday. And later, President Thomas Jefferson scoffed at the idea of having a day of thanksgiving. It was Sarah Josepha Hale, a magazine editor, whose efforts eventually led to what we recognize as Thanksgiving. Hale wrote many editorials championing her cause in her Boston Ladies' Magazine, and later, in Godey's Lady's Book. Finally, after a 40-year campaign of writing editorials and letters to governors and presidents, Hale's obsession became a reality when, in 1863, President Lincoln proclaimed the last Thursday in November as a national day of Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving was proclaimed by every president after Lincoln. The date was changed a couple of times, most recently by Franklin Roosevelt, who set it up one week to the next-to-last Thursday in order to create a longer Christmas shopping season. Public uproar against this decision caused the president to move Thanksgiving back to its original date two years later. And in 1941, Thanksgiving was finally sanctioned by Congress as a legal holiday, as the fourth Thursday in November. Geketa Holman
	Hear, O Israel the L-rd our G-d,the L-rd is one http://www.DHGBoutique.com
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The Great American Music 1057 1181 Baltimore	Re: Thanksgiving Day History 11/20/2006 10:00:31 AM
	Hello Geketa : Thank you for the history lesson. There were many subjects noted that I did not know and others that made me hungry. Sooooo, please excuse me while I go grab a slice of pumpkin pie... Joe Buccheri TGAMM FM
	http://www.mymusic-notes.webs.com
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A 294 125 Chicago	Re: Thanksgiving Day History 11/20/2006 10:17:31 AM
	Very enlightening portrayal of such a momentous occasion. However, if you are Native American, that rendition is a little flawed. If it were not for us, the Pilgrims would have perished and that is the bottom line. Without our help, there would have been no Thanksgiving or anything else. Let us not forget who fought for this land with all that they had against a people who would change the land forever. When the sun in the sky is red at dawn, a storm is not far away. The truth in the end will always be made known.
	A C
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John 7177 1560 Crewe	Re: Thanksgiving Day History 11/20/2006 10:32:07 AM
	Hi Geketa, Thanks for the info, because I could never understand what all the fuss was about! We still have harvest festivals here in the UK but its all very low key, stiff upper lip and all that. Best Wishes John.
	A Free Add Service For The UK? Go to uk.bexp.org A Free Add Service For The USA? Go to usa.bexp.org Please Follow Me on Twitter Click Here
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Geketa 858 2080 Owenton	Re: Thanksgiving Day History 11/20/2006 1:51:53 PM
	Hi Joe, Only one slice of Pumpkin pie .. betcha can't eat just one! Thanks for taking time to stop by and read your history lesson lol Blessings, Geketa
	Hear, O Israel the L-rd our G-d,the L-rd is one http://www.DHGBoutique.com
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