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| The First Thanksgiving
Squanto remained with the Pilgrims at Plymouth and became a Christian. The Mayflower returned to England, loaded with timber and furs. However, the settlement remained in debt to the Plymouth Company for years to come and never became an independent colony. It was finally absorbed into the Massachusetts Colony. Thanks to Squanto's expertise, maize was planted, maple trees were tapped for syrup and deer were trapped. The settlers were shown where to find grapes, strawberries, plums and other fruit. By Autumn 1621, the harvest was so abundant that a Thanksgiving ceremony was planned. Squato was sent to invite Chief Massasoit. When he arrived, he was accompanied by ninety comrades who had to be dispatched to hunt for more food. Finally, the Indians stayed for three days and everyone feasted on goose, duck, venison, lobster, eel, corn bread, fruit and red and white wine. Two and a half centuries later, President Lincoln made Thanksgiving a national holiday in the U.S.A., to be celebrated on the last Thursday of each November.
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© Shirley Burchill, Nigel Hughes, Richard Gale, Peter Price and Keith Woodall 2007 Footnote : As far as the Open Door team can ascertain the image shown above is in the Public Domain. |
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