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SOURCES FOR "THE FIRST THANKSGIVING"
The events of Plymouth in autumn 1621 relates to the first thanksgiving, there are 2 primary sources
for them. However, research conducted by Center for World Thanksgiving at Thanks-Giving Square
throws a good deal of light on the subject. Given below are the
citations from the two original writings followed by an analysis
of the roots of Thanksgiving. Enjoy the history of
Thanksgiving and forward it to your friends.
The story of Thanksgiving is basically
the story of the Pilgrims and their thankful community feast at
Plymouth, Massachusetts.
The Pilgrims, who set sail from Plymouth, England on a ship called the
Mayflower on September 6, 1620, were fortune hunters, bound for the
resourceful 'New World'. The Mayflower was a small ship crowded with men, women and children, besides the sailors on board.
Aboard were passengers comprising the 'separatists', who called themselves the "Saints", and others, whom the separatists called the
"Strangers".
After land was sighted in November following 66 days of a lethal voyage, a meeting was held and an agreement of truce was worked out. It was called the Mayflower Compact. The agreement guaranteed equality
among the members of the two groups. They merged together to be recognized as the "Pilgrims." They elected John Carver as their first governor.
So then, as you see, celebrating harvest is quite old. And so is the
thanksgiving act—to thank the Almighty for all the good things He has given us!
And all these harvest festivities, although having cultural differences, are
common in spirit to the modern American Thanksgiving. However, you should also
take note of the fact that today’s Thanksgiving has its direct origins in the
history of America—in the popular Pilgrim’s story of Thanksgiving. Do you know
the Thanksgiving story?
The Thanksgiving Story:
Ask any child and you would instantly know that Thanksgiving started with the
Pilgrims coming to Plymouth, Massachusetts long long ago. This ‘long long ago’
is the year 1620, but who were the ‘Pilgrims’? Why did they come? What did they
do? Well, before you get totally fazed out… here comes the Thanksgiving story
for you:
The ‘Pilgrims’ are as much associated with Thanksgiving as Santa is to
Christmas. In 1609, a group of Puritans, who called themselves ‘Separatists’
fled England, unable to conform to the English Church and the religious
persecutions prevailing in England. They then moved to Holland and lived there
for quite a few years until they could manage to finance a trip to the New
World. In 1620, they set sail for the New World in a ship called the Mayflower
and on reaching their destination, they settled in a town called Plymouth,
Massachusetts. And yes, it is precisely because of this that the town Plymouth
is so closely associated with the Thanksgiving holiday! And, every year during
this Thanksgiving season, numerous people visit this town and make their own
pilgrimages to check out where the Thanksgiving holiday began.
Now the first winter of the Separatists, more popularly the Pilgrims, was so
severe that only a handful of them survived the harsh, adverse and merciless
winter months in Plymouth. After a phase of intense hunger, malady and
declining hopes, a Native American named Squanto, who knew English well,
brought back better days for the Pilgrims. He taught them how to plant
different crops on their soil and various other ways of planting and harvest.
The results of this were far-out—the Pilgrims had a first-rate, bountiful
harvest in the following autumn. They had surplus food for the winter and
learnt the ways of survival in the New World.The governor of the Pilgrims,
William Bradford, then sought it best to celebrate their survival and glory
with a sumptuous feast. So a grand feast followed and the Natives were also
invited to be a part of their jubilation. Historical data tells us that the
feast continued for three days and was marked by wholesome recreation and
entertainment.
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Happy Thanksgiving Wishes
Reach out to your friends/ parents/ grandparents/ siblings/ someone close to
you.
"How
can you forget about wishing your dear ones on Christmas.Greet them with Free
Christmas eCards"
Thanksgiving Partners
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