There is no common ground on when our Thanksgiving holiday was first marked. It is generally assumed that it was the Puritans in Massachusetts who initiated a feast AND A FAST marking a day of thanks for . . . well, I guess, letting them survive in this new and sometimes unforgiving land.
But that was 1621 in the Plymouth Colony. History tells us that the widespread habit of a Thanksgiving harvest festival did not widely take hold until the 1660's in New England.
Whatever.
It is a day when families gather together . . in modern times . . to overeat, indulge our familial grudges and watch football on humongous television screens. (For which we are all thankful.)
So it's two days away. Our frozen turkey (breast) is out on the counter beginning the long thaw. SWMBO is off today to an earlier than usual lunch with the BRD and then a stop at Trader Joe's to pick up whatever else is needed for our feast. Somewhere in the next couple of days I have been commissioned to make a pumpkin pie although the "little woman" will make a ginger snap crust for it to reside in.
I don't know about you but I'm already getting hungry.
I'll have more on this subject tomorrow.
Is this the day we celebrate the first illegal immigrants to America?
ReplyDeleteYou have familiarity with Mexico and may know this.
ReplyDeleteThe first Thanksgiving may have been in or near what is now El Paso Texas and in 1598. A young spanish scion of a family with Royal alliances and who had done work for the King of Spain in this New World, launched an expedition in the summer of 1597. They were to travel to a land grant holding the young man earned near what is now El Paso.
They commenced from southern Chihuahua near Santa Barbara (Mx). It was a hellish a go. Drought, flooding, hostiles, near starvation before crossing the Rio Grande. Later after a period of recuperation the young Juan de Onate arranged a feast of thanksgiving. The Spanish provided game, the Indian's provided fish, a mass was said by
Franciscans and apparently a happy event was launched. Historians have said this celebration was one of the significant dates in the history of the American Continent.
It seems the feast we gather is identified with the English, who as you note, gave thanks more than a half century later.
It might be good to apprise your readers that adding something of a southwest, Chihuahuan, or Texan touch would not be overreaching. It would be most appropriate.
I love history. Americans tend to forget that Santa Fe was already an established town in New Mexico at the time of the Pilgrims arrival.
DeleteWe do have a lot to be thankful for; glad there is at least one day to remember to be thankful :)
ReplyDeletebetty
My Modem has been out since last Thursday, got it fixed today. Tomorow is the day. May all have a grand one.
ReplyDeleteTomorrow is the Day! Let's be thankful to be able to understand it's meaning.
ReplyDeleteI wonder how many native Americans believe they'd have been better off if on the first Thanksgiving if they'd eaten the pilgrims. Oh, well. Happy Thanksgiving.
ReplyDelete