Monday, November 25, 2013

Thanksgiving is upon us!


 
Safe travels if you are traveling. Happy cooking if you are hosting a meal.  Enjoy family and friends if you have found a charming restaurant to have dinner at. (like our family)
 
Over the last month many of you have posted things you are thankful for on a daily basis.  You have touched many with your good thoughts.
 
For those of you that are alone this year, I hope you reach out and share your day with someone.  It's the one day a year I believe in being with others and sharing your friendship. 
 
THE FIRST THANKSGIVING
 
Our national holiday grew out of a feast held in the fall of 1621 by the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag Indians, also known as "eastern peoples", to celebrate their first successful harvest.  The Pilgrims would not have survived at Plymouth without the native people.  The Wampanoag taught them how to plant native crops and where to catch the best seafood.  So it was only fitting they join the Pilgrims feast.
 
There was no turkey, mashed potatoes or pumpkin pie at the first feast.  They dined on duck, venison, seafood, cabbage, onions, corn and squash.  The feast lasted for three days with ball games, dancing and marksmanship for the men. 
 
Thanksgiving became a federal holiday in 1863 when President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed, Thursday, November 26 to be Thanksgiving Day.
 
A FEW CURIOUS MYTHS
 
The settlers didn't wear silver buckles on their shoes.
And they didn't wear black clothing.  Their clothing was actually bright and cheerful.
The Native Americans didn't wear woven blankets on their shoulders and large feather headdresses, as often shown in paintings and pictures.
Also, the Englishmen didn't call themselves Pilgrims.
 
A FUN FACT ABOUT THANKSGIVING
 
The Pilgrims didn't use forks; they used spoons, knives and their fingers.  So parents let your little ones be a pilgrim and eat with their fingers for this one meal. 
 
 
 
I am thankful for everyone in my life and that my life has gone in the direction it needed to go.  With or without my help.
 
    "Not what we say about our blessings, but how we use them, is the true measure of our thanksgiving"  by W.T. Purkiser
 
 
Thanksgiving information obtained from, Scholastic.com, Wikipedia & National Geographic
 
                                                                    

2 comments:

  1. Interesting facts about Tgiving...thanks for sharing. I also enjoyed your last post on preserving our energy...a good reminder during the holiday season when we can be pulled in many directions and get easily drained by the less-than-pleasant folks.

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  2. You're welcome Rhonda. I think we all have to remember that this is a time for limiting our activities and not pushing ourselves to the brink of hysteria.

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