"We seldom get into trouble when we speak softly. It is only when we raise our voices that the sparks fly and tiny molehills become great mountains of contention."
There
have been festivals associated with the harvest every since man began
to till the soil. The Chinese celebrated such a feast thousands of
years ago, and in our hemisphere, Native Americans and colonists
celebrated the harvest years before the Pilgrims arrived.
Nevertheless,
Thanksgiving Day, as we now know it, traces its roots directly back
to 1621 and the Pilgrims of Plymouth, Massachusetts. Persecuted in
England for their religious beliefs, they sailed to the Netherlands
in hopes of finding a better life.
Instead
they found a language barrier, cultural differences, and economic
hardships. Once again they uprooted their families, but this time it
was for the promised freedom and prosperity of the New World.
The
Speedwell sailed from the Netherlands in July, 1620, and met up with
the Mayflower and more emigrants in Southampton, England. By the
time they made it to Plymouth, England, the Speedwell had
deteriorated so badly that it had to be left behind.
Of
the 102 passengers that sailed on the Mayflower that September, 41
were Puritans, who referred to themselves as “Saints” —
17 men, 10 women and 14 children. Eighteen were indentured servants,
and the rest, called “strangers” by the Puritans, were
seeking economic o[opportunity, not religious freedom.
On
November 10, land was sighted off Cape Cod. The Pilgrims chose a
site on the mainland for colonization, and on December 11, first set
foot in the deserted Indian town of Patuxet (which would become
Plymouth).
Three
years of plague had exterminated the Indian population. During a
bleak winter filled with sickness and hardships, 47 members of the
tiny immigrant community were buried in unmarked graves to prevent
hostile Indians from knowing the number of dead.
The
survivors’ first harvest was a joyous occasion. A three-day
festival of Thanksgiving replaced both Christmas and New Year’s
for these Puritan settlers. Their difficult living conditions left
them little time or resources, and their religious beliefs also
discouraged merrymaking, especially on traditional feast days which
the established church had observed.
Since
God had allowed them to survive the winter, Thanksgiving seemed to
them to be a more fitting celebration.
In
1789, George Washington proclaimed the first national day of
Thanksgiving. Abraham Lincoln declared in 1863 that Thanksgiving Day
be held annually on the last Thursday of November.
The
American traditions of Thanksgiving are steeped in symbols of our
first settlers. And don’t forget your own family traditions,
whether it’s Aunt Nellie’s candied yams or Grandmother’s
china gravy boat. It just wouldn’t be Thanksgiving without
them.
Look
for ideas that keep giving and giving. Check out the specials that
Dian has on her website. These ideas will give you more creative
projects to do with you kids and grandkids. You will create the
traditions and fun that will last forever. Why not give gifts that
keep giving and giving. To see the holiday specials go to
www.DianThomas.com
and check out the items in the store that are up to 60% off.
Dian Thomas was blessed with the good fortune to be born near and raised in
the remote, breathtaking Manti-La Sal National Forest in southeastern Utah,
where her father was the forest ranger. She took the skills she learned in the
outdoors and turned them into a New York Times best-selling book, Roughing It
Easy. Her appearance on the NBC's "Tonight" show with Johnny Carson
boosted her into the national media scene, where she became a regular on
NBC's "Today" show for eight years and then ABC's "Home Show" for six years.
After more than 25 years of media exposure and 19 books, she now shares her
practical insights and wisdom with audiences who want to savor life.
A former Relief Society president, Dian is currently serving as a visiting
teacher. Visit her website at www.DianThomas.com