Story: Claudia Mosby
Holiday
a day of thanks T H A N K S G I V I N G H I S T O R Y, T R A D I T I O N S A N D T R I V I A
To speak gratitude is courteous and pleasant, to enact gratitude is generous and noble, but to live gratitude is to touch Heaven. ~
TAKE A LOOK
Johannes A. Gaertner
A DAY OF CELEBRATION
The roots of this truly American holiday are attributed to a celebratory feast between the Wampanoag tribe and Pilgrims after their first successful corn harvest. Take a peek into the history of Thanksgiving, interesting facts and trivia associated with the holiday, a quiz to test your turkey
Giving thanks with a celebratory feast after a successful crop was practiced in both Native and European traditions in the 17th century. Although historically little is known about the threeday feast that took place in Plymouth in
and a list of organizations in the North State dedicated to sharing bounty with those in need. Enjoy!
between the Pilgrims and their Wampanoag allies, it has been used as the model for the Thanksgiving tradition we know today.
IQ 1621
Thanksgiving immediately evokes certain images and associations: roasted turkey with all the trimmings, reunions with family and friends, football and parades, and Pilgrims. Historians suggest that many of the dishes at the first feast were likely prepared using traditional Native American spices and cooking methods. The meal would not have included pies (a hallmark of contemporary celebrations) because the Pilgrims had no oven in which to bake them and the Mayflower’s sugar supply was short by the fall of 1621. The classic Thanksgiving menu of turkey, cranberries, pumpkin pie and root vegetables is based on the New England fall harvest. Over time, local cooks modified the menu according to food preference, but also due to limited food supplies. Many substitute regional seafood, meats and produce for the traditional Thanksgiving menu. Today’s Thanksgiving celebration is a blend of two earlier traditions: the New England custom of harvest celebrations (based on ancient English harvest festivals) and the Puritan Thanksgiving, a solemn religious observance combining prayer and feasting. continued on page 56
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