Hi Twinklestars! I know I've been in absentia awhile, but I'm still around! I know you know how it goes… anyway, the Weelings have been moping around, soooo disappointed in the lack of Halloween festivities, that I thought I'd cheer them up and tell them the story of "The First Thanksgiving" -you're welcome to sit back and listen, too!
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Me: Once upon a time, in the pre-history of America, around September of 1620, a ship named the Mayflower left Plymouth, England, carrying 102 peeps, who were tired of being told what religion to practice and what land they could and could not own, thank you very much. So they packed it all up and sailed across the ocean, and after much woozy sickness and rats and storms of major proportions and all around general yuckiness for 66 long days, they came upon Cape Cod. I guess they didn't like it there, because one month after that, they moved on to Massachusetts Bay, where they officially became Pilgrims, as they are now known, and established a village at Plymouth Rock.
McHootie: "They got dragged away from all of their friends for some old rock?"
"SHHHH!" said the other Weelings.
Me: Ahem. That first cold hard winter, most of the colonists stayed aboard ship, and suffered from the cold, scurvy and icky contagious diseases.
Lysander Apple Jelly: "It's a shame they didn't have antibacterial gel back then."
Me: Right. Only half the Mayflower’s original passengers and crew lived to see the spring. In March, they moved ashore. They were visited by an Abenaki Indian- who spoke English! Later, he came back with another Native American, Squanto, a member of the Pawtuxet tribe, who told of being kidnapped by an English sea captain and sold into slavery before escaping to London and returning to his homeland on an expedition!
Squanto felt bad for the Pilgrims, who were weak due to malnutrition and illness. He taught them how to grow corn, get sap from maple trees, catch fish, and stay away from poisonous plants.
He also helped them form an alliance with the Wampanoag, a local tribe. In November 1621, the Pilgrims’ first corn harvest was successful! Governor William Bradford organized a feast and invited a group of the colony’s Native American allies, including the Wampanoag chief Massasoit. It lasted for THREE days! And that was America’s first Thanksgiving.
Vincent Honeydew: "Are you sure that's how it goes?"
Me: Well, pretty sure...
McHootie: "What about the turkey who hopped around delivering corn?"
Me: The Tur-hop-wha?
Lysander: "What about the Tree adorned with feathers and shells?"
Me: Er....
Vincent Honeydew: "I thought they hung their cornucopias out so the Great Buffalo would bring them jewelry!"
Me: Have you guys been on the internet again?
WEELINGS (looking innocent) "ummmmmmmmmmm...."
Me: Thought so. Your mashing your holidays together! Thanksgiving is made up of two words-"thanks" and "giving". The point is that people should come together in peace and harmony and fellowship for the greater common good-like the pilgrims and indians did, see?
Lysander Apple Jelly: "So....it isnt about food?"
Me (emphatically): No.
Lysander Apple Jelly: "Then why does your pantry look like this?"
(damaging evidence)
Me: Um. Ok. Point taken. Its about giving thanks....AND green bean casserole.
And with that, the weelings went outside to re-enact their version of Thanksgiving. We want to wish all of you Twinklestars the happiest of Thanksgiving times, no matter how you celebrate it!
XOXO ROO & CREW
