Thanksgiving

A. What is thanksgiving? / Who were the pilgrims?              

The thanksgiving`s day has its origins from the celebration that the Plymouth colonists and Wampanoag Indians shared an autumn harvest feast.

The story began in the 1600`s, when in England, the government didn`t have a tolerance with other religions, So a group of people taken a ship for seek a place with freedom religious. The passenger included the pilgrims also known as the "saints" and others, whom the Pilgrims called the "strangers". That group wanted t make a pure religion.

C. What is the Mayflower?

The English people bordered the Mayflower, a ship that set sail from England in July of 1620. The Mayflower was not attacked by pirates but a big storm damaged part of the ship. Then, some of the people on Mayflower died the first winter by something that they called “general sickness” of colds, coughs and fevers.

Finally Mayflower arrived at Cape Cod on November 11, 1620.  The pilgrims ailed up the coast to Plymouth, and started to build their town where a group of Wampanoag people had lived before.

D. Who were the Wampanoag?

The Wampanoag are one of many Nations of people all over North America who were here long before any Europeans arrived, and have survived until today. Many people use the word “Indian” to describe us, it´s prefer to be called Native People.

E. What happened to the Pilgrims during the first winter?

When the Mayflower landed at Plymouth, north of Cape Cod, the Pilgrims did not have time to plant food for the winter. The first winter was very harsh for the new settlers. The cold temperatures and snow interfered as the Pilgrims tried to construct their settlement. Out of the original group of Pilgrims, only about half survived the first winter.

F. What did the Wampanoag do for the pilgrims?

An Indian named Samoset arrived at the settlement and frightened the Pilgrims until he called out "Welcome" in English. Although the Pilgrims and Samoset had a difficult time communicating, he did stay for awhile and even spent the night. Samoset left the next day and returned a few days later with an English speaking Indian named Squanto. Squanto taught the Pilgrims how to hunt, fish and grow corn.

G. Why did they celebrate the first Thanksgiving?

Because of Squanto's help, the Pilgrims had a very successful harvest in October and had plenty of food for the upcoming winter. The Pilgrim's Governor William Bradford proclaimed a day of celebration and thanksgiving sometime in the middle of October. The Pilgrims invited Squanto and many other Indians to join in the celebration. The Thanksgiving feast lasted for three days.

E. When is Thanksgiving Celebrated now? 

Now day’s the thanksgiving is celebrated the  fourth Thursday in November as a national Thanksgiving holiday