But wait!
A couple of Florida scholars say the first Thanksgiving actually was celebrated by Spaniards in what is now St. Augustine, Florida in 1565. (Presumably in Spanish, one of the official languages of Florida these days.)
So the debate goes on and on. But it first became an official government mandated holiday way back in 1941 when President Franklin Roosevelt signed legislation (y'all remember legislation, don't you?) naming the fourth Thursday of November every year as the day we celebrate, eat ridiculously huge meals and, if we remember, give thanks.
And, so says Wikipedia and who would argue with them, modern day Thanksgiving goes back to those Calvinists in New England. Just never mind the Spaniards and Mexicans and Indians who went before.
Kind of like how we tend to forget or ignore our history even today.
A world of information, this blog is.
ReplyDeleteAnd what a mistake it was.
ReplyDeleteWhen the Vikings landed in Ireland in 847AD the O'Mulligan's welcomed them with their special home brew. After they had passed out, the clan cut their hair off, took their leggings, and made their boats into charcoal to filter the brew. We've celebrated that since then, it was the third Thursday of the month.
ReplyDeleteHappy Thanksgiving.
So many opinions on how the whole thing started and in my mind is the picture that was in my 1st grade primer of all the pilgrims and Indians seated at a table together enjoying turkey and the trimmings. I wish I could ask my grandparents what they did before 1941!
ReplyDeleteI saw your note on my travel site, 1968 Democratic Convention...what a turbulent time that was!
However it started, I'm glad for a day to eat turkey :)
ReplyDeletebetty
The Indians would have been better served at that first (Calvinist) Thanksgiving if they'd eaten the pilgrims.
ReplyDeleteSorry, I try not to interfere but personal insults will not be allowed.
ReplyDeleteRegardless of the accent you use, Happy Thanksgiving!
ReplyDelete