November means... Thanksgiving Day.
Thanksgiving is observed on the every fourth Thursday of November. The holiday is celebrated in remembrance of the pilgrims and in order to give thanks.
When I think of Thanksgiving, many thoughts come to mind. I think of a plump roast turkey full of stuffing and home made pumpkin pie. I think of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade and NFL football games. But most of all, I think of spending time with my family and friends –sharing our love and our bountiful blessings. But there’s always more to the story as they say. And the story of this national holiday is one of love, sharing, and giving between two diverse groups of people who joined together in peace and celebration. This is the story of our ancestors who called themselves “pilgrims” and a tribe of Indians named the Wampanoag’s. This is the first known recorded story of Thanksgiving.
After a 2 month long journey traveling by ship over 3,000 miles, our ancestors arrived to the new world. The trip was treacherous because of the autumn storms along the way. Not only was the ride pretty rough, but the conditions were nearly inhumane. Many of the pilgrims were living in cramped quarters and food was scarce. Many never lived to set foot upon the new land.
When they arrived in the winter of 1620, nearly half of those traveling on the ship died of illness from the severe cold and lack of food. You can only imagine the long 2 month journey; only to arrive in the bitterness of winter having to bury loved ones and still try to stay strong with very little food to go around. But the pilgrims weren’t alone. There was a strange group of people who noticed these newcomers. These Eastern Massachusetts people were an Indian tribe known as the Wampanoag’s.
If you stop and think for a minute, these people could have reacted rather defensively. After all, strangers had invaded their territory. And they could have reacted in just fear alone, but they didn’t. No one knows why or how long it took before the Indians decided to befriend our ancestors. All we know is that they did. May be they saw their tear stained faces as they buried their loved ones. Maybe they heard a mother’s cry as her baby was lowered into the ground. And maybe the reasons weren’t as significant as the gesture itself-reaching out to folks in need.
The pilgrims must have been bewildered to see the faces of these savage natives. My bet is that they were a bit hesitant of the Indians motives. They were probably surprised to learn that the Indian chief, Massasoit and his people were there to help. An Indian named Squanto- who spoke English- taught them to plant crops, fish, and hunt. The pilgrims and Indians were friends. I often think of life today. With so many prejudices among us, how many of us would be as kind to a group of strangers if they unknowingly arrived on our property? Many of us would probably call the police, or run them off with shot gun in hand. Yet, the Indians chose random acts of kindness and generosity.
When autumn arrived in 1621 the pilgrims had a bountiful harvest. I think they must have felt blessed for their new found friends. I imagine that they were all too grateful. A celebration was in order. And it only seemed right that they invite their friends the Wampanoag’s! If I close my eyes long enough I can see the hussle and bustle of men, women, and children preparing for the gala event. The men would hunt for game such as venison or goose, while the women cooked corn or cabbage. Other women were decorating tables with pine cones and running pines. The children were helping any way they could.
It probably took around 2 days for the Wampanoag’s to reach the colony. When they arrived, the first thanksgiving took place. There was a harvest of fresh game, with corn, onions, and probably some cod and lobster. There was no stuffed turkey on this day. And as far as cranberries and mashed potatoes went…it would be a few more years before these tasty dishes would be introduced. The celebration lasted for 3 days. Can you imagine-eating for 3 days straight? I’m full after eating one thanksgiving meal! It must have been a grand celebration. Children played and the adults danced and sang.
I imagine a long table filled with food and Chief Massasoit sitting on one end, while Captain Miles Standish sat on the other. I picture Squanto having a conversation with Governor William Bradford. The feast is about to start. Heads are bowed as the clergyman adds a prayer of thanks. They weren’t much different from us. They were gathered at the table with family and friends, giving thanks for the past years blessings. They were filling their bellies while enjoying each others fond company. Isn’t that what we do each Thanksgiving day? We gather with our family and friends, and we too fill our bellies with food and laughter as we look back-giving thanks!
These regular folks didn’t know that this day would be remembered in history for years to come. They probably didn’t know that some of their names would be written in history books and taught to children all over the world. I bet they weren’t aware that one simple act of kindness would change everything, including the making of a national holiday: Thanksgiving!
The day after Thanksgiving is called "Black Friday", which is the beginning of the traditional Christmas shopping season. According to Wikipedia, the term dates back to at least 1966, although its usage was primarily on the East coast. The term has become more common in other parts of the country since 2000. Because Thanksgiving falls on the fourth Thursday in November in the United States, Black Friday occurs between the 23rd and the 29th of November. Black Friday is not an official holiday, but many employees have the day off as part of the Thanksgiving holiday. Black Friday is an experience that shoppers either love or hate.
Black Friday as a term has been used in multiple contexts, going back to the nineteenth century, where it was associated with a financial crisis in 1869. The earliest uses of "Black Friday" to mean the day close to Thanksgiving come from or reference Philadelphia and refer to the heavy traffic on that day. The earliest known reference to "Black Friday" (in this sense), found by Bonnie Taylor-Blake of the American Dialect Society, refers to Black Friday 1965 and makes the Philadelphia origin explicit:
JANUARY 1966 -- "Black Friday" is the name which the Philadelphia Police Department has given to the Friday following Thanksgiving Day. It is not a term of endearment to them. "Black Friday" officially opens the Christmas shopping season in center city, and it usually brings massive traffic jams and over-crowded sidewalks as the downtown stores are mobbed from opening to closing.