Happy Thanksgiving

Dear Readers,

In America, we are celebrating Thanksgiving. While this holiday is about 20 years too early for the Kabinettskreige era, (1621) I thought that my American readers might be interested in reading the primary sources which this holiday is based on.

The first is from Edward Winslow in Mourt's Relation:

"our harvest being gotten in, our governor sent four men on fowling, that so we might after a

special manner rejoice together, after we had gathered the fruits of our labors; they four in one day

killed as much fowl, as with a little help beside, served the Company almost a week, at which time

amongst other Recreations, we exercised our Arms, many of the Indians coming amongst us, and

amongst the rest their greatest king Massasoit, with some ninety men, whom for three days we

entertained and feasted, and they went out and killed five Deer, which they brought to the

Plantation and bestowed on our Governor, and upon the Captain and others. And although it be

not always so plentiful, as it was at this time with us, yet by the goodness of God, we are so far

from want, that we often wish you partakers of our plenty."

The second is from William Bradford in, Of Plymouth Plantation:

"They began now to gather in the small harvest they had, and to fit up their houses and

dwellings against winter, being all well recovered in health and strength and had all things in good

plenty. For as some were thus employed in affairs abroad, others were exercised in fishing, about

cod and bass and other fish, of which they took good store, of which every family had their portion.

All the summer there was no want; and now began to come in store of fowl, as winter approached,

of which this place did abound when they came first (but afterward decreased by degrees). And

besides waterfowl there was great store of wild turkeys, of which they took many, besides venison,

etc. Besides, they had about a peck of meal a week to a person, or now since harvest, Indian corn

to that proportion. Which made many afterwards write so largely of their plenty here to their friends

in England, which were not feigned but true reports."

Both of these, and more info, is available here:
http://www.pilgrimhallmuseum.org/pdf/TG_What_Happened_in_1621.pdf

Enjoy your day, and thanks for reading!

Alex