Happy Thanksgiving!

The history of Thanksgiving is usually associated with the harvest celebration of the Pilgrims and Native Americans in the autumn of 1621. The pilgrims, who had settled the previous year at Plymouth Rock in Plymouth, Massachusetts, were thankful for the bountiful harvest. This gathering was a 3 day feast, and included the Native Americans who had helped the Pilgrims through their first winter, during which they lost 46 of the original 102 Mayflower voyagers. The feast included venison, boiled pumpkin, fish, berries, watercress, lobster, dried fruit, clams, and plums. This feast is often thought of as the “First Thanksgiving.” 

Many years later, on June 29, 1676 another Day of Thanksgiving was celebrated in Charlestown, Massachusetts to express thanks for the prosperity and security of the established community. 

A century later in October 1777, all 13 East coast colonies joined in a Thanksgiving celebration. 

In 1789 George Washington proclaimed a National Day of Thanksgiving although many were opposed to it, including President Thomas Jefferson. 

It wasn’t until 1863, President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed the last Thursday in November as a National day of Thanksgiving. It was then proclaimed by every president  hence. In 1941, Thanksgiving was sanctioned by Congress as a legal holiday, set as the fourth Thursday in November.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING from ParamedicCooks.com!!

Thanksgiving Quotes:

Thanksgiving dinners take eighteen hours to prepare.  They are consumed in twelve minutes.  Half-times take twelve minutes.  This is not coincidence.  ~Erma Bombeck

Heap high the board with plenteous cheer and gather to the feast,
And toast the sturdy Pilgrim band whose courage never ceased.
~Alice W. Brotherton

Coexistence:  what the farmer does with the turkey - until Thanksgiving.  ~Mike Connolly

I love Thanksgiving turkey.  It's the only time in Los Angeles that you see natural breasts.  ~Arnold Schwarzenegger

Not what we say about our blessings, but how we use them, is the true measure of our thanksgiving.  ~W.T. Purkiser

What we're really talking about is a wonderful day set aside on the fourth Thursday of November when no one diets.  I mean, why else would they call it Thanksgiving?  ~Erma Bombeck

Thanksgiving is an emotional holiday.  People travel thousands of miles to be with people they only see once a year.  And then discover once a year is way too often.  ~Johnny Carson