Thanksgiving is a time to give thanks for our blessings and to share our bounty with others. It is a time of remembrance and return, a celebration of abundance, of both sustenance and love, with family and friends. It is not simply a day for huge meals and football games, but a day to give thanks to God.
Because it is a uniquely American holiday, Thanksgiving offers a chance not only to remember but also to reflect on history, and examine what it means to be an American. Sadly many people have forgotten why the day was established in the first place. With our nation still struggling economically, let us reflect on the hardship that our forefathers endured.
In August 1620, 103 passengers sailed from England to the new world to become the founding pilgrims of the United States of America and the creators of one of this country's most popular holidays. Because of storms and disease, of the original 103 passengers, only 56 survived the first winter.
But as spring came, the survivors built homes and planted crops. They made friends with local Native American tribes and traded with them.
After bringing in their first harvest in the fall of 1621, the pilgrims dedicated a day for thanking God for the bounty He had blessed them with. The governor, William Bradford, proclaimed a day of thanksgiving. They prepared a great feast to enjoy with family and friends both from within the colony and with neighboring Native American tribes.
In attendance were 52 English colonists and 90 Wampanoag Indians. There are many myths surrounding Thanksgiving but there are a few things that we know are true about the holiday:
- The first Thanksgiving was a harvest celebration that lasted three days, the event most likely occurred between Sept. 21 and Nov. 11.
- The Wampanoag contributed at least five deer to the feast.
- Cranberry sauce, potatoes - white or sweet - and pies were not on the menu.
- Besides food, the event included recreation and entertainment.
- President Abraham Lincoln first named Thanksgiving an annual holiday in 1863.
Of all the qualities of Thanksgiving, the power to draw people together is among its most endearing. Whether it is sharing a meal with strangers or gathering relatives together from far flung locations across the country, Americans have come to rely on Thanksgiving for its message of peace, sharing and togetherness. I hope that this Thanksgiving is a blessed day for you and your family.
Supervisor Gary Ovitt
San Bernardino County, 4th District