Imagine, the first Thanksgiving celebration in the colonies
lasted 3 days! Today in America we
celebrate Thanksgiving on the 4th Thursday in November.
Thanksgiving has a long history. President George Washington made a day of
thanks. President Abraham Lincoln issued
a Federal proclamation in 1863 making Thanksgiving an annual Holiday, and
Federal Legislation was passed by the U.S. Congress in 1941, marking the last
Thursday of November, and later the 4th Thursday of November, as a
fixed date for the National Holiday.
Long ago in 1621, the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag tribe
prompted by a good harvest, shared a meal of roasted meat, cranberries, corn
and shellfish. They played games and
sang songs. Today we still gather to
share a feast of food with our family and friends. The games are different though – today many
people turn on their TV and watch football!
The early settlers gave thanks for their bountiful harvest, and they
gave thanks for the rain after a long 2-month drought. They gave thanks for their gifts, as we do
today.
Thanksgiving has always been one of my favorite
Holidays. I have always savored the
thought of the traditional foods and the abundance on our tables and in our
lives. I love celebrating with loved
ones and going around the table sharing our gratitude for all we have and for
each other; it fills my heart with goodness and warmth. Not everyone has enough though, and each year
I am reminded how fortunate I am to be able to share our bounty with those in
need.
When you think of Thanksgiving do you see pumpkins, or
Pilgrims, or a cornucopia filled with fruits, flowers, and vegetables, or fruit
pies, or an annual Thanksgiving Day parade?
What are you grateful for?
Best wishes for a Happy Thanksgiving to everyone from the
Kimble Family and their employees.
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