Thanksgivingpassive

They were the

first settlers of

Plymouth,

Massachusetts,

which was the

first permanent

colony in New

England.

The Pilgrims came to

Plymouth, Massachusetts

on the ship called the

Mayflower in 1620.

The current celebration of Thanksgiving is

based on the 3-day celebration that occurred

between the Pilgrims and the neighboring

Native American Indians.

During the autumn of 1621, Plymouth governor

William Bradford invited the neighboring

Native American Indians to share in a feast in

gratitude for the abundance of food during

that season.

The customary turkey

dinner is a reminder of

the four wild turkeys

served at the Pilgrims'

first thanksgiving feast.

Standard foods served at

Thanksgiving include:

Turkey, Stuffing, Cranberry

Sauce, and Pumpkin Pie.

Thanksgiving is a holiday that is

generally celebrated with family

and friends. Many Americans

talk about what they are thankful

for, and spend time together

watching American football,

playing cards, or just talking and

are thankful for the time together.



During the 1800’s,

Thanksgiving was

not practiced, until

Abraham Lincoln

made a proclamation

and resumed the

tradition in 1863.

On November 26, 1941, President

Roosevelt signed a bill established

the fourth Thursday in November

as Thanksgiving Day.

It is a common symbol

associated with Thanksgiving.

Coming from

ancient Greece,

Cornucopia means

Horn of Plenty, and

symbolizes

abundance.

The Native American Tribe called

Wampanoag, were the first known people

the Pilgrims encountered in Plymouth, MA.

Thanks to a Wampanoag named Squanto,

who spoke English, the Pilgrims learned

many vital survival skills necessary to

prosper in the North America.

Thankful for the plentiful crops, the homes

they had built, and the help and peaceful

relations with the neighboring Native

American Indians, the Pilgrims invited them

to a celebration harvest feast. The

Wampanoag chief, Massasoit, Squanto, and

90 others joined the Pilgrims for the 3 day

festival.

Wampanoag means People of the First

Light

In the 1600's there were up to forty

thousand people in the sixty-seven

villages of the Wampanoag Nation.

Today we have about four to five

thousand Wampanoag in New England.

There are three primary groups,

Mashpee, Aquinnah , and Manomet.

Harvest festivals

and thanksgiving

celebrations were held by

the ancient Greeks,

the Romans, the Hebrews,

the Chinese, and the

Egyptians.

In modern society, the

United States continues the

tradition of thanksgiving, as

well as Canada.

The ancient Greeks worshipped the

Goddess of Corn: Demeter, who

was honored at the festival of

Thesmosphoria held each autumn.

The ancient Chinese celebrated their

harvest festival, Chung Ch’ui with the full

moon that fell on the 15th day of the 8th

month. This day was considered the

birthday of the moon. It was believed that

during this 3 day festival flowers would fall

from the moon, and those who saw it would

have good fortune.

The ancient Egyptians

celebrated their

harvest festival in

honor of Min, their

god of vegetation and

fertility. The

festival was held in the

springtime, the

Egyptians harvest

season.

Jewish families also

celebrate a harvest

festival called Sukkoth:

which is 5 days after

Yom Kuppur. It takes

place each autumn, and

has been celebrated for

over 3000 years.

The Romans

celebrated a harvest

festival called

Cerelia, which

honored the Ceres,

their goddess of corn

(from which the

word cereal comes

from.) It was held

every year on

October 4.

Thanksgiving in Canada is celebrated

on the second Monday in October.

Observance of the day began in 1879.

Resources Utilized:

http://www.thanksgiving.org/2us.html

http://www.holidays.net/thanksgiving/story.htm

http://www.britannica.com/

http://www.plimoth.org/learn/education/kids/

homeworkHelp/wampanoag.asp