Thanksgiving is a harvest festival. The earliest recorded religious Thanksgiving Day in Plymouth is from 1623. When the rains came after a two month drought, the colonists gave thanks. Initially it was celebrated along with the Native Americans. The celebration included merry making, drinking and included local produce of deer, corn, roasted meat and shellfish. Yes, nothing to do with turkey and pudding, which is standard fair nowadays. In fact most of our celebratory food was not even available in the 1600s!
Over time, in 1863, President Abraham Lincoln declared two national Thanksgivings. Yes two. One was in August to remember the battle of Gettysburg and the second was in November to give thanks for 'general blessings'.
Today it is a weekend over which families gather, eat, celebrate and bond. Here are three things for families to do together this year:
1. Feast
Yes, a great time to gather and feast together. Seasonal produce like squash and sweet potato are a must. Vegetarian get a tofu turkey, while others get a turkey and use their own recipes to cook it or it could be a store prepared one. Everyone pitches in to cook a part of the meal.
2. Play
Yes, families can gather and play games - board games, outdoorsy games or perhaps some scavenger games, to make it big, noisy and fun. Nothing can be better than playing together for families to come together.
3. Explore
This is a great time to explore your city. Walk, drive or take the bus. Make it multi-generational. Get the older members to show you places you did not know about. Great way to bond with grandparents. Explore parks. Make sure you bundle up. The good time must not lead to unwell times.
Food is essential to human survival. Even after all these years, it feels perfectly natural to give thanks to the bounty that nature gifts us. Tell us how you plan to celebrate this Thanksgiving.
Over time, in 1863, President Abraham Lincoln declared two national Thanksgivings. Yes two. One was in August to remember the battle of Gettysburg and the second was in November to give thanks for 'general blessings'.
Today it is a weekend over which families gather, eat, celebrate and bond. Here are three things for families to do together this year:
1. Feast
Yes, a great time to gather and feast together. Seasonal produce like squash and sweet potato are a must. Vegetarian get a tofu turkey, while others get a turkey and use their own recipes to cook it or it could be a store prepared one. Everyone pitches in to cook a part of the meal.
2. Play
Yes, families can gather and play games - board games, outdoorsy games or perhaps some scavenger games, to make it big, noisy and fun. Nothing can be better than playing together for families to come together.
3. Explore
This is a great time to explore your city. Walk, drive or take the bus. Make it multi-generational. Get the older members to show you places you did not know about. Great way to bond with grandparents. Explore parks. Make sure you bundle up. The good time must not lead to unwell times.
Food is essential to human survival. Even after all these years, it feels perfectly natural to give thanks to the bounty that nature gifts us. Tell us how you plan to celebrate this Thanksgiving.
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