Did you also know, the Pilgrims at the Plymouth Plantation, celebrated an entirely different day of Thanksgiving in 1623. Plagued by a crop-destroying drought, the settlers prayed for relief. They even fasted. A few days later, they received rain that they so desperately needed. Soon thereafter, they received another blessing when Captain Miles Standish came with staples that they could not otherwise obtain. He also advised them that a Dutch supply ship was en route. In gratitude for the abundance of these blessings, the Plymouth settlers celebrated a day of prayer and Thanksgiving on June 30, 1623.
Surviving journals of Edward Winslow that are housed at Plymouth Plantation also indicate that the first Thanksgiving feast was nothing like what Americans eat today. The meal consisted of venison, various types of wild fowl (including wild turkey,) and Indian corn. There were no cranberries, stuffing, pumpkin pie, potatoes, or any of the other "traditional" foods that appear on modern menus.
Today, Thanksgiving is still a day of feasting, and for some, a day of prayer and thanksgiving. For others, it is a celebration of gathering, especially for families. Still others may celebrate in entirely different ways, including watching college football games, or by playing family games.
No matter how you celebrate Thanksgiving, may we never forget the true blessings that God has given to each one of us!
God Bless,
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