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Thanksgiving Day
This Thanksgiving, perhaps more than any other, we give THANKS for life, family, gifts and gifts that we are not yet aware of! We remember our forefathers that started this BLESSED country, and we recall their THANKFULNESS for the oppressions that they and their loved ones escaped!
We give Our most heartfelt sympathy, compassion and support to ALL the families that lost a father, mother, husband, wife or sibling in the September 11th, 2001 attack on America!
The Pilgrims' 1621 Thanksgiving
The tradition of the Pilgrims' first Thanksgiving is steeped in myth and legend. Few people realize that the Pilgrims did not celebrate Thanksgiving the next year, or any year thereafter, though some of their descendants later made a "Forefather's Day" that usually occurred on December 21 or 22. Several Presidents, including George Washington, made one-time Thanksgiving holidays. In 1827, Mrs. Sarah Josepha Hale began lobbying several Presidents for the instatement of Thanksgiving as a national holiday, but her lobbying was unsuccessful until 1863 when Abraham Lincoln finally made it a national holiday with his 1863 Thanksgiving Proclamation.
Today, our Thanksgiving is the fourth Thursday of November. This was set by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1939 (approved by Congress in 1941), who changed it from Abraham Lincoln's designation as the last Thursday in November (which could occasionally end up being the fifth Thursday and hence too close to Christmas for businesses). But the Pilgrims' first Thanksgiving began at some unknown date between September 21 and November 9, most likely in very early October. The date of Thanksgiving was probably set by Lincoln to somewhat correlate with the anchoring of the Mayflower at Cape Cod, which occurred on November 21, 1620 (by our modern Gregorian calendar--it was November 11 to the Pilgrims who used the Julian calendar).
There are only two contemporary accounts of the 1621 Thanksgiving: First is Edward Winslow's account, which he wrote in a letter dated December 12, 1621. The complete letter was first published in 1622, and is chapter 6 of Mourt's Relation: A Journal of the Pilgrims at Plymouth.
For more Thanksgiving information, visit these links...
All About Thanksgiving A page full of hypertext links about Thanksgiving.
Histories of First Nations This is a huge collection of histories of several hundred Indian Nations.
Miles Standish The Courtship of Miles Standish (by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow -- 1858)
Nauset A detailed history of one of the Nations which lived on Cape Cod and found itself in conflict with the European settlers.
New Meet Old Americans Brief encyclopedia article describing early wars and conflicts between Native Americans and new colonists in New England.
Pilgrims Reach Plymouth Brief encyclopedia account of the first Thanksgiving.
Let's get right to the second most importnt thing bout Thanksgiving - FOOD! Here's some links to some fine Thanksgiving recipe web sites - we hope that you enjoy them and find them useful...!!!
Oh, and please "right-click" and choose "new window" or you'll leave this page...
Make cooking a family affair. Find great recipes that you and your kids can have fun making
(and eating) together -- and share your family favorites with other parents! GO THERE
From garlic mashed potatoes to pumpkin pie, here is a place to share your
favorite family recipes with other busy parents. GO THERE
Spread the joy of cookies! Share the cookie recipes that make holidays and
every day special at your house. GO THERE
Travel Games for the Road
Traveling this holiday season? Keep your kids busy on long car trips,
airplane rides... anywhere! GO THERE
More Fun for the Road!
See a List of all of Our Printable Books!
Living a Grateful Life
Carleton Kendrick Ed.M., LCSW
Why not use this Thanksgiving Day as the first step toward becoming a more grateful family? Giving
thanks for one's blessings on this holiday is traditional. Feeling grateful every day is an attitude and
a way of experiencing life. If you want to cultivate gratitude as a family value, the following questions
can help you make giving thanks an integral, daily part of your lives.
How can we give thanks every day?
Focus on creating both individual and family rituals. Keep "gratitude journals"; set aside time for
family prayer; try to be more physically affectionate with one another; make an effort to express your
appreciation and encouragement (the dinner table is the perfect place to do this). Giving your thanks
daily establishes gratitude as a priority in your family.
What do we take for granted that we might express thanks for every day?
We all need to open our eyes and appreciate our daily gifts: food, shelter, clothing, good health,
friendship, the beauty of nature, and the kindness of others. Talking about ways to increase our
awareness of these daily blessings is productive.
Is doing for others a way of expressing gratitude?
Discuss how helping others is gratitude in action. You might not only prepare and/or help serve a
holiday meal at a homeless shelter, but also talk about how your family can make a commitment of
time and service to this shelter on a regular basis. Expressing thanks by actively helping others in an
ongoing way can be one of your family's "gratitude goals."
What attributes do you possess that you are thankful for?
This self-examination encourages self-gratitude, helping us pause to appreciate our skills, talents,
and personality traits. If we've lost sight of our special gifts, this gives family members an opportunity
to point them out to us: "You are the best listener." "You always manage to cheer us up when we're
down." "You can fix anything that's broken."
Who has treated you with kindness and generosity, and how would you like to thank that person?
Gratitude can take many forms - a homemade gift, a thank-you card, a phone call, a spontaneous
favor. Remembering those who have made us feel special and valued encourages us to become
more aware and appreciative of human kindness. You might discuss ways to show your gratitude
by passing on a person's kindness through your own acts of generosity.
Teaching your children by example how to make their gratitude known is at the core of teaching
them how to appreciate and celebrate the abundance in their lives. These are lessons learned
throughout a lifetime, not merely discussions we have at Thanksgiving dinner.
Click here for more Thanksgiving quizzes, games, and activities.
Don't be a couch potato! Celebrate the true meaning of Thanksgiving with crafts
and activities the whole family can enjoy. (Then go ahead and watch a little football!)
1. Wow your relatives with a table-top turkey centerpiece.
2. Show what you're grateful for. Create a talking tablecloth.
3. Strut your stuff (and have a good laugh)! Make and model these turkey hats.
4. Say thank you and decorate your living room at the same time with a Thanksgiving mural.
5. Send a friend or relative a one-of-a-kind holiday greeting.
6. Let your kids help with the cooking. They can whip up these tasty turkey treats on their own.
7. Take a family walk in the park, collect some pinecones, and sculpt a turkey.
8. Get the seating arrangement straight with these turkey place cards.
9. Break out the paint and make Thanksgiving a hands-on experience for your kids!
10. Step outside and play a game of family football!
There ya go...!!! Now that wasn't too difficult, was it?
Now, go watch some football, socialize and have a GREAT Thanksgiving...!!!
ALL CREDIT DUE TO "ABSOLUTELY FOR THANKSGIVING"!
Thanksgiving Links
A Thanksgiving Story Wrap
Thanksgiving Screensavers Listings
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