Funke88
26-11-2003, 22:35
Here's a quote taken from holidays.net. I found it interesting that while Thanksgiving is thought of as an American holiday, people all over the world celebrate harvest festivals around this kind of time of the year. Celebrations were held by the ancient Greeks, the Romans, the Hebrews, the Chinese, and the Egyptians.
The History of Thanksgiving and its Celebrations.
Before the establishment of formal religions many ancient farmers believed that their crops contained spirits which caused the crops to grow and die. Many believed that these spirits would be released when the crops were harvested and they had to be destroyed or they would take revenge on the farmers who harvested them. Some of the harvest festivals celebrated the defeat of these spirits.
In 1621, after a hard and devastating first year in the New World the Pilgrim's fall harvest was very successful and plentiful. There was corn, fruits, vegetables, wild turkeys, along with fish, which was packed in salt, and meat that was smoke cured over fires. They found they had enough food to put away for the winter.
The Pilgrims built homes in the wilderness, they raised enough crops to keep them alive during the long coming winter, and they were at peace with their Indian neighbors. They had beaten the odds and it was time to celebrate. Their Governor, William Bradford, proclaimed a day of thanksgiving that was to be shared by all the colonists and the neighboring Native American Indians.
The custom of an annually celebrated thanksgiving, held after the harvest, continued through the years. In 1863 President Abraham Lincoln appointed a national day of thanksgiving. Since then each president has issued a Thanksgiving Day proclamation, usually designating the fourth Thursday of each November as the holiday.
So today I give thanks for the great life that I have and to my loving family and wonderful husband. I give thanks for my health and wealth, and good fortune. I gave food to the poor and needy and donated money to homeless people less fortunate living in shelters. Today is a day of reflection, gratefulness and humility. I especially thank God that we live in a country of freedom where we are civilized and safe. I know my family is safe in England. But you know none of us are really safe. We have to thank the brave men and women of our armed forces for keeping us that way and for continuing to strive towards peace. If it weren’t for them we wouldn’t know freedom. Whatever you believe in please give thanks today.
Happy Thanksgiving Day.
Happy Turkey Day
The History of Thanksgiving and its Celebrations.
Before the establishment of formal religions many ancient farmers believed that their crops contained spirits which caused the crops to grow and die. Many believed that these spirits would be released when the crops were harvested and they had to be destroyed or they would take revenge on the farmers who harvested them. Some of the harvest festivals celebrated the defeat of these spirits.
In 1621, after a hard and devastating first year in the New World the Pilgrim's fall harvest was very successful and plentiful. There was corn, fruits, vegetables, wild turkeys, along with fish, which was packed in salt, and meat that was smoke cured over fires. They found they had enough food to put away for the winter.
The Pilgrims built homes in the wilderness, they raised enough crops to keep them alive during the long coming winter, and they were at peace with their Indian neighbors. They had beaten the odds and it was time to celebrate. Their Governor, William Bradford, proclaimed a day of thanksgiving that was to be shared by all the colonists and the neighboring Native American Indians.
The custom of an annually celebrated thanksgiving, held after the harvest, continued through the years. In 1863 President Abraham Lincoln appointed a national day of thanksgiving. Since then each president has issued a Thanksgiving Day proclamation, usually designating the fourth Thursday of each November as the holiday.
So today I give thanks for the great life that I have and to my loving family and wonderful husband. I give thanks for my health and wealth, and good fortune. I gave food to the poor and needy and donated money to homeless people less fortunate living in shelters. Today is a day of reflection, gratefulness and humility. I especially thank God that we live in a country of freedom where we are civilized and safe. I know my family is safe in England. But you know none of us are really safe. We have to thank the brave men and women of our armed forces for keeping us that way and for continuing to strive towards peace. If it weren’t for them we wouldn’t know freedom. Whatever you believe in please give thanks today.
Happy Thanksgiving Day.
Happy Turkey Day