Wednesday, November 21, 2007

Thanksgiving: Facts from Myths



The first "thanksgiving" was a harvest feast held in October 1621. It was not a true day of thanskgiving in the religious sense of the word as the Puritans were unable to celebrate anything Biblical without an ordinance from their governor.

Thanksgiving was moved to the 4th Thursday of November by Congress in 1941.

Of the 102 Pilgrims who landed at Plymouth in 1620, only 50 survived to celebrate the harvest.

Native Americans (Massasoit and Wampanoag)outnumbered the Pilgrims almost 3 to 1 at the dinner. THe venison was courtesy of the guests.

If you play football or some sort of outdoor activity before the meal--you are continuing a Puritan tradition. Any festivity, religious or otherwise, always including games or sports. But only the men got to play.

--Source: PilgrimHall.org