Thanksgiving

HAPPY THANKGIVING!

An excerpt from one of the 2 primary source documents for Plymouth Plantation reports the following about the "First Thanksgiving". From Mourts Relation

Our harvest being gotten in, our governor sent four men on fowling, that so we might after a special manner rejoice together after we had gathered the fruits of our labor. 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 we brought to the plantation and bestowed on our governor, and upon the captain and others. And although it be not always so plentiful as it was at 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.

The year before the Pilgrims had suffered around 50% mortality. The winter had been very cold, and the harvest for them had been pitiful. It was after Squanto and Samoset came and helped the colony plant and harvest the way the Natives did that they had all the plenty.

From Wikipedia.org

The Pilgrims were particularly thankful to Squanto, the Indian who taught them how to catch eel, grow corn and who served as an interpreter for them (Squanto had learned English on a previous trip to Europe). Without Squanto's help the Pilgrims might not have survived in the new world. The Pilgrims set apart a day to celebrate at Plymouth immediately after their first harvest, in 1621. At the time, this was not regarded as a Thanksgiving observance; harvest festivals were existing parts of English and Wampanoag tradition alike.

Look up the story of Squanto, especially as recounted in The Light and the Glory by Peter Marshall. It is amazing what happened to him, and how he ended up being the savior of the colony.

The story of the colony itself, and the peace that they had with the Wampanoag tribe and Massasoit, the chief, is amazing as well.

Oh, the 2 primary source documents (which means they were written during the time they describe, or by people involved in the events described) are Mourt's Relation and William Bradford's Of Plymouth Plantation.

So, God bless you all, and Happy Thanksgiving!