"THANKSGIVING DAY IN AMERICA..... " a United States of America Travel Page by eden_teuling

The PILGRIMS WERE REFUGEES FROM RELIGIOUS INTOLERANCE in England and they decided to emigrate to the tolerant HAVEN of THE NETHERLANDS in 1609.

But after some 12 years in Leiden , The Netherlands/Holland, they feared the loss of their English traditions as their children were growing up Dutch.

There also was the threat of (renewed) war between the Dutch and the Spanish and so the little congregation made the momentous decision to emigrate yet again in 1620 .

In September of the year 1621 the Pilgrims had arrived at Plymouth Harbour by the mouth of the Hudson River after a perilous sea voyage and a severe first winter in the New World!

They were now near the northern boundary of the Virginia colony and celebrated their first feast: they gave thanks with a traditional English Harvest Feast!

The American tradition of celebrating Thanksgiving began in 1621
when Massachusetts Bay Governor William Bradford proclaimed a feast
to celebrate a bountiful harvest. The colonists had suffered severe
hardships during their first year in the New World, and the successful
harvest provided hope that things were improving.

According to several
documented accounts of this feast, the colonists shared corn, fruits,
vegetables and fish with friendly native American tribes who in turn
provided fresh venison.

George Washington first declared that all the members of the new Union
should celebrate Thanksgiving on the same day, Thursday, November 26, 1789.

But, not surprisingly, it was Abraham Lincoln who first declared
Thanksgiving as a US NATIONAL HOLIDAY in 1863.

Today, THANKSGIVINGS DAY is celebrated on the 4th THURSDAY of NOVEMBER each year......

HAPPY THANKSGIVING......

For who wants to know more: www.plimoth.org.Library/pilgrim.htm