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It is written on a level for children, but with facts that adults may not know. |
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The first Thanksgiving was observed in 1621 by a group English settlers. Rather than suffer persecution for their religious beliefs, a small group of people escaped to Holland where they lived for twelve years. While in exile, they decided to emigrate to the new land. In July of 1620, forty six "Saints" started their journey to America. They stopped in their native land to pick up other English emigrants before embarking on their long journey aboard the Mayflower. On November 11, 1621, they arrived and settled an area of present day Massachusetts in an abandoned Indian village called Patuxet. The village had been abandoned three years earlier because of plague.
Their late arrival, harsh winter, and lack of food caused great hardship. Squanto, a previous inhabitant of Patuxet and former slave in Spain, quickly befriended them and lived with them until his death. His knowledge of agriculture, hunting, and construction was a Godsend to these humble people. The following November, they celebrated a Thanksgiving for their arrival and bounty in the new land. Other local native Americans, the Wampanoags, joined in the festivities by bringing additional food and playing games with the settlers.
On June 20, 1676, the governing council of Charlestown, Massachusetts, held a meeting to determine how best to express thanks for the good fortune that had seen their community securely established. By unamimous vote they instructed Edward Rawson, the clerk, to proclaim June 29 as a day of thanksgiving, our first.
Thanksgiving was erratically recognized until 1827 when Sarah Joseph Hale started a campaign to make it a national holiday. She was the editor of the Boston's Ladies Magazine at the time. Finally at her persistence, Abraham Lincoln proclaimed it a national holiday in on October 3, 1863. He set the date as the last Thursday in November. |
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