Thanksgiving Weekend.......Oh, the many joys and memories we have for that wonderful long weekend in November. Some people are busy buying Christmas presents early before stores run out. Many of us are busy cooking and baking as we expect family members to invade our houses. And of course, the football games are number one! Family reunions are special as we take time to visit with aunts and uncles, cousins and grandkids because we realize Thanksgiving is the only time in the year we see them. Plane travel is especially tedious because everybody is flying to see someone somewhere.
Yes, during my 86 years on earth I still have wonderful memories of those Thanksgiving weekends. I remember how my Aunt Frances would take my brother and me plus our cousins into NYC to visit the Museum of Natural History on the day after Thanksgiving. We would walk a few blocks from her house in Ho-Ho-Kus, NJ to Rt 17 to catch the bus into the city. How exciting to spend hours in that museum learning about our country, its history and growth. Usually winter had not descended on us so we enjoyed local football games.
But what are we celebrating that weekend? Thanksgiving.......giving thanks.......to whom? Do we remember why we have that weekend and, especially that day?
The history of Thanksgiving is very interesting. Remember, the Pilgrims arrived in New England on the Mayflower ship in 1620. They were running away from religious persecution in England and the Netherlands and chose to sail to that new country available across the Atlantic Ocean. About 100 Pilgrims finally signed up for the voyage and many days were passed due to legal proceedings with various lawmakers regarding permission to land in the New England area. Their voyage was not without difficulties with storms and breakdowns of ship equipment so the trip was not easy. Even landing was a difficulty as the Pilgrims searched for a safe area. The Pilgrims discovered vacant Indian villages which they later discovered had been struck with lethal diseases so that none had survived. They finally found landing at Plymouth and were most grateful to meet an Indian named Squanto. He had been captured by some explorers before the devastating diseases wiped out his village. While in England Squanto escaped his slave holders and was able to return to the colonies. He had learned English while he was in England and could help the Pilgrims. Squanto had become a Christian, trusted the Pilgrims and taught them how to grow vegetables and other food supplies because he had been educated in England.
Then came the time of harvest. Because of Squanto's help and the assistance of the entire Wampanoag tribe the Pilgrims survived. However, their first winter in the new country had been harsh. Only 53 of the Pilgrims survived due too starvation and cold. But now the harvest of the new year proved to be enough to last an entire winter. The Pilgrims decided to hold a feast and invited Squanto, and Chief Massasoit of the Wampanoags and another Indian, Samoset. The Indians heartily agreed and brought their entire families. That meant there were now 90 people at this feast. The Indians very generously brought turkey, duck, fish, deer, berries, squash and cornbread. What a celebration! And that was the 'First Thanksgiving'. The Pilgrims chose to thank God for protecting them, for giving them Squanto, for giving them food to eat and knowledge to grow food in their new country. The Pilgrims finally believed they would survive in this new land.
Now, think about it. What will be celebrating this Thanksgiving weekend??? Are we just enjoying family reunions, football games, and big dinners? When I think of how comfortable we are living in the USA, able to shop for anything, protected by our country, food available at every street corner.......how much time do we take to thank God for all we have? We are blessed and we need to thank our Lord God every day. Thanksgiving Day was officially pronounced by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt in 1941 to be celebrated by our country and to take time to thank the God of the universe for all that we have and for all that we are. Let us never forget to thank our great God.
