Give Thanks

Psalm 92:1 "It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord, and to sing prasies unto thy name"

Just wanted to take a moment and remember that in the fall of 1621, 90 Wampanoag Indians and, 52 English colonists gatherd for a three day harvest feast. Their table fare of course was somewhat different than the spread at most American tables today. At our Thanksgiving day get together, one can normally find Turkey, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, gravy, fruit salads, rolls, green bean casserole, maybe scalloped potatoes, cranberry sauce & relish, assorted banana and nut breads, various pies etc.

The Pilgrims on the other hand, I am told sat down to fowl (likely waterfowl such as duck or geese), and whitetail deer. They had neither white or sweet potatoes as they were not available on that first Thanksgiving. There probably were not any cranberries for dinner although they may have been used for their tartness or color. I found out that there apparently was no pumpkin pie either. The colonists hadn't yet built an oven. Much of our table fare for Thanksgiving came about in 1854 because ; Bradford's history book of The Plymouth Plantation resurfaced. The book increased interest in the Pilgrims and Sarah Josepha Hale who was at the time editor of the popular Godey's Lady's Book; was determined not to let the first historic Thanksgiving day fade from the minds or tables of Americans. She filled her magazine with recipies and editorials about Thanksgiving.

In 1858, Hale petitioned the president of the United States to declare Thanksgiving a national holiday. It was five years later, that Abraham Lincoln declared the last Thursday of November, "as a day of Thanksgiving and praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens".

Fortunately there were not any protestors who felt that taking time out to thank God for protection on the voyage from England, and the food on the table; in some way offended them. I plan on celebrating the Thanksgiving Holiday for years to come and pray that you will also.

Have a Nice Thanksgiving. Dan www.gunsandoptics.com