The Truth About the Pilgrims and Thanksgiving
(From someone who was there)
Thanksgiving and the Pilgrims seem to go together,
just like Christmas and Santa Claus--
but the truth is, the Pilgrims never
held an autumnal Thanksgiving feast.
Whaaaat?
Before you cancel next year's turkey,
take a look at the origin of that particular myth.
In some ways, the truth is even more intriguing.
The Pilgrims did have a feast in 1621,
after their first harvest,
and it is this feast which people often refer to as
"The First Thanksgiving".
This feast was never repeated, though,
so it can't be called the beginning of a tradition,
nor was it termed by the colonists or
"Pilgrims" a Thanksgiving Feast.
In fact, to these devoutly religious people,
a day of thanksgiving was a day of prayer and fasting,
and would have been held any time
that they felt an extra day of thanks was called for.
Nevertheless, the 1621 feast has become a model of
what we think of when we think of our own
Thanksgiving celebration,
and we do know something of the truth about it.
We can assume, for example, that the harvest feast was eaten outside,
based on the fact that the Colonists didn't have a building
large enough to accommodate all the people who came.
Native Americans were definately among the invited guests,
and it's possible. even probable, that turkey (roasted but not stuffed)
and pumpkin in some form, found their way to the table.
And it gets even better. This is the way the feast was described
in a first-hand account presumably by a leader of the colony,
Edward Winslow:
"Our harvest being gotten in, our governor sent four men on fowling
(bird-hunting) , that so we might after a special manner rejoice together
after we had gathered the fruit of our labors.
They four in one day killed as much fowl as, with a little help beside,
served the company almost a week.
At which time, amongst other recreations, we exercised our arms.
Many of the Indians coming amongst us, and among the rest,
their greatest, King Massasoit, with some ninety men,
whom for three days we entertained and feasted,
and they went out and killed five deer,
which they brought to the plantation and bestowed
on our governor, and upon the ca[tain, and others.
And although it be not always so plentiful as it was this time with us,
yet by the goodness of God, we are so far
from want that we often wish you partakers of our plenty."
From this we know that the feast went on for three days,
included ninety "Indians", and food was plentiful. In addition,
to the vensison provided by the Indians, there was enough
wild fowl to supply the village for a week.
The fowl would have included ducks, geese, turkeys and even swans.
Not a bad beginning for what wasn't really
"the first Thanksgiving", huh?
My best wishes to friends, family and associates
for a really SPECIAL Thanksgiving, 2007.
God Bless you, Everyone.
I Give Thee Thanks ....
For all the blazing sunsets of this year.
For all the blazing sunsets of this year.
For all those precious children, Oh, so dear.
For small and insignificant things
And for the songs that my heart sings,
I Give Thee Thanks ....
For all the blazing sunsets of this year.
For all the blazing sunsets of this year.
For all those precious children, Oh, so dear.
For small and insignificant things
And for the songs that my heart sings,
I give Thee thanks.
I give Thee thanks ...
For all the soldiers who are serving us.
For all the soldiers who are serving us.
For those who bear the blessed gospel trust.
For old acquaintances renewed.
For wonders clearly signed by You,
My Lord, I give Thee thanks.
My Lord, I give Thee thanks.
Sweet Lord, I give Thee thanks.
by Joan Clifton Costner
November, 2007