In autumn of 1621, the Plymouth colonists and Wampanoag Indians shared a harvest feast that is now acknowledged as one of the first Thanksgiving celebrations. The Mayflower had left Plymouth, England in September 1620 carrying 102 passengers – an assortment of religious separatists seeking a new home where they could freely practice their faith, and others lured by the promise of prosperity and land ownership in the New World. The treacherous and uncomfortable crossing lasted 66 days, and they dropped anchor near the tip of Cape Cod, far north of their intended destination. Most of the colonists remained on board the ship throughout that first brutal winter, suffering from exposure and disease; only about half of the original passengers lived to see their first New England spring. After all moved ashore, the survivors were taught by Squanto, a member of the Pawtuxet tribe, how to cultivate corn, extract sap from maple trees, catch fish in the rivers, and avoid poisonous plants. He also helped forge an alliance between the settlers and the Wampanoag tribe. In November 1621 after the Pilgrim's first corn harvest, Governor William Bradford organized a celebratory feast, inviting a group of the colony's Native American allies including Wampanoag chief Massasoit. The festival lasted for three days and included a meal of corn, fowls, and deer. Because the Pilgrims had no oven, and the Mayflower's sugar supply had dwindled, their meal did not feature pies, cakes, or other desserts.
As we think back on both the hardships and celebrations that our ancestors experienced, may we also offer up our thanks for the multitude of blessings that we experience daily!
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