Happy Thanksgiving
“If you are really thankful, what do you do? You share.”
This quote captures the spirit which began the first Thanksgiving on our shores. The pilgrims had survived after much loss and hardship thanks to the generosity of the Wampanoug nation. And, to express their thankfulness, they in turned shared a feast with their new found friends and neighbors.
I know of late it has become the trend to mock that first Thanksgiving. Considering the black mark the United States’ government has placed on this nation’s history with their treatment of the Indian Nations, one can understand the attitude. But I humbly submit to you, dear reader, that governments often malign their people with their poor, unjust behavior (one only need look to current events to see the veracity of this statement).
That first Thanksgivings wasn’t two governments sitting down to break bread together and honor one another; it was individual people seeing one another for the good each possessed.
“I have found that it is the small everyday deeds of ordinary folk that keep the darkness at bay. Small acts of kindness and love.”
The color, creed, or nationality of those seated at the first Thanksgiving table weren’t the forefront in anyone’s mind. Rather the humanity of each person present was being celebrated. Consider that when the pilgrims arrived neither they nor the Wampanoug spoke a common tongue. But what the Wampanoug saw were people in need of their help, so they gave. And what that First Thanksgiving was was a celebration of not only surviving the elements and hardships of the new world for the Pilgrims, but a sharing of gratitude of the new friends who had given so much of themselves to ensure such an outcome. The relations between the tribes and the Pilgrims are recorded in history; that history is positive and important to remember. Individual men, women, and children interacted with one another, forged the bonds of friendship, and paved the way for a community of unlikely allies to be formed.
Taking away the responsibilities on the personal level under the banner of government is what always trips things up. Accountability is rarely seen on such a large scale. But the pilgrims and the Wampanoug was interactions on a small scale and bad behavior had its consequences on a much more immediate level.
That first Thanksgiving was about unity, a unity forged through hardship. We’ve seen that same sort of unity in our own lifetimes on September 12th, 2001. The day after the horrific attacks on the World Trade Center presented a united people- united in our grief and sorrow, but also in our resolve. We were all Americans, regardless of color or creed.
Strangers were kinder to one another. People looked out for each other, regardless whether they knew one another or not. There was a seemingly limitless fount of human compassion and it flowed throughout the nation. That was the spirit present at that first Thanksgiving. And that is why it is vital that this Thanksgiving, in the face of all the things which endeavor to divide us, we must celebrate this day of gratitude, generosity, and unity. May this Thanksgiving be filled with the fulness of the spirit which first birthed it in this nation. Happy Thanksgiving, dear readers, to you and to your families.
If you’re keen on taking a trip through the history of the first Thanksgiving, I encourage you to take a look at The Cranberry Tradition post. Within this post are several stories associated with the first Thanksgiving as well as my Nana’s Orange Cranberry Relish recipe and my Cranberry Chutney recipe. There are also several links to other blogs that give more detailed historical account of what transpired that first Thanksgiving in 1621.
Looking for some music to get you in the grateful mood. Whiskers on Kittens has you covered. In the Standards to Love: Thanksgiving Blessings, I highlight several American Popular Standards that focus on the importance of thankfulness. As a matter of fact, one of the songs comes from a movie that would be perfect to break out while you’re celebrating Thanksgiving with your family.
Breaking bread together is one of the highlights of this impending holiday. And while that can come fraught with all sorts of familial issues, the intent is family togetherness. In our home, we really love bread. And while we will purchase fresh bread from our bakery, the favorite is homemade. I had a recipe for homemade bread that is pretty easy to make and I have shared it in the blog post Baking Bread. So, if you’d like to try your hand at a homemade staple for this Thanksgiving, mosey over to the post and check it out.
The last post I’ll share with you here is the Words to Love post I wrote back in 2019 called Intentioned Thankfulness. This one doesn’t have a recipe attached to it nor does it go through any history. However, it is a powerful reminder as to why a life of thanksgiving is so important for us all to enter into. So, as we enter into the Thanksgiving holiday, take a few minutes out of the hustle of preparation and read through this post. It will help prepare your heart for the holiday.
