 | |  | | Thanksgiving is America’s national holiday for giving thanks to God. It has a special significance for Americans because it is traced back to that group of people who were among the first to come to the New World in search of freedom.
In 1620, 102 sea-weary Pilgrims landed on the peninsula of Cape Cod. Their ship, the Mayflower, had intended to go to Virginia, but it made its landfall far to the north. After some weeks of exploration, the colonists decided not to make the trip to Virginia but to remain where they were. They chose the area near Plymouth harbor as a site for their colony. When they stepped ashore in this utterly alien world, they were totally isolated from any out side help and knew no means of livelihood. And the greater trouble was that in the woods lived Indians, some of whom were hostile. This added to the hardship of daily life. But the vast stretches of forest gave them a hope. In this way the nation’s forefathers not only survived the first severe winter, but also saw the first harvest of crops in the next autumn. In November of 1620, the settlers spent three days to celebrate and show thanks to God for a successful harvest. Their Indian friends were also invited to join their festival and feast.
This story of that Pilgrim feast is well known among Americans. It is told and retold every year to young children in schools as Thanksgiving Day approaches. It is now observed on the fourth Thursday of November. |  |  |  |  |
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