SOUTH BOSTON ONLINE
THURSDAY NOVEMBER 27, 2025
VOLUME XIX- ISSUE 74
Thanksgiving, 2025
H
ere in South Boston, as in the rest of United States, we a re entering into our annual Holiday Season, which begins by celebrating the A merican Feast of Thanksgiving. And a feast it certainly is. So right up front, please be tha nk f ul – be tha nk f ul for T ha n k sgiv ing it self. But is it rea lly a n “A meric a n Fea st”? Or an observance? Or a holy day? Or a celebration? To answer these questions authentically and completely, South Boston Online will quote some we l l-k now n i nd i v idu a l s , who occupied prominent roles in American History: There’s Edward Winslow, the leader of the Plymouth Pilgrims in 1620. In a 1621
letter to a friend in England, after suffering star vation, bitterly cold weather, and disea ses like ship fever, Winslow wrote that the Pilgrims feasted “so that we might after a more special ma nner rejoice toget her …”. This was the f irst Thanksgiving – in Plymouth and American to the core! G e or g e Wa s h i n g ton, the first President, stated in a proclamation, “Congress requested me to recommend to the People of the United States a Day of public Thanksgiving.” Washington went on to set aside “Thursday, November 26 n e x t .” Pre sident Abra ha m Lincoln, at the height of the Civil War in 1863, said, “I do therefore … invite my fellow citizens in every part of the Continued on Page 2
Volunteers Making A Difference
Hundreds of South Boston families and residents received Thanksgiving meals from the annual Msgr. Thomas J. McDonnell and Frank Kelly Thanksgiving Dinner, hosted at Saint Monica’s. Dedicated volunteers make this all possible. Some volunteers helped cook and serve the meals; others went through the line and got containers filled with food; and still others delivered the meals. It’s a true reminder of what makes South Boston so special — neighbors showing up for one another. More Photos Page 6 & 78