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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. |