The History of Thanksgiving in America

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The History of Thanksgiving in America
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Thanksgiving

• A thanks to God for blessing
• Oldest American Holiday
• Story about the Pilgrims foreigner, alien or
  wanderer

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Who Were the Pilgrims?

• Christians who felt they must separate from the
  corruption they saw in the Church of England

• People who left England to find religious liberty
  -- first to Holland, and then to the New World

• Men, women children Average age 32

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Who Were the Pilgrims?

• 1534 everyone required to join Church of England
• Two types of Pilgrims
• Puritans purify or clean
• Separatists want to leave the church (still
  called Pilgrims).

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Trip to Leyden, Holland

• Moved in 1607
• Poor in new country
• Children forgetting English
• Wanted to start new life in America

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What was their journey like?

• 102 people left on the Mayflower, on Sept. 6, 1620

• Many very seasick

• Mocked by the crew

• Cross beam broken

• Blown off course

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What was their journey like?

• After they had enjoyed fair winds and weather
  for a season, they were encountered many times
  with cross winds, and met with many fierce
  stormsone of the main beams in the mid ships
  was bowed and cracked, which put them in some
  fear that the ship could not be able to perform
  the voyage

Of Plymouth Plantation William Bradford
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Their Arrival - Nov. 11, 1620

• Being thus arrived in a good harbor and brought
  safe to land, they fell upon their knees and
  blessed the God of heaven, who had brought them
  over the vast and furious ocean, and delivered
  them from all the perils and miseries thereof,
  again to set their feet on the firm and stable
  earth, their proper element.

Of Plymouth Plantation William Bradford
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Destination

• They land in Massachusetts, not New York!

• They sign the Mayflower Compact predecessor of
  the Constitution

• They find a landing place that is already cleared
  but is uninhabited!

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Mayflower Compact

• To take Christianity to new areas having
  begun, for the glory of God, and advancement of
  the Christian Faith
• To build a new home in the New World to plant
  the first colony in the northern parts
• To make a united form of government combine
  ourselves together into a civil body politic
• To make only the laws that are good for everyone
  
  make such just and equal laws for the
  general good

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That first winter
The Mayflower stays to provide shelter from the
weather and protection from possibly fierce
Indians while the Pilgrims begin the work of
building the future town of Plymouth.
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That first winter
Forty-seven die during the General Sickness
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In March, 1621, the Pilgrims meet two unusual
Indians
First Samoset
Then Squanto
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Who was Squanto?

• An English-speaking Indian, who has been Captured
  in 1605
• Freed by Christians
• Return to American in 1619

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Who was Squanto?

• The only remaining member of the fierce Pawtuxet
  tribe who once lived on the very land where the
  Pilgrims were now living. The rest of the tribe
  had died of disease while Squanto was in England.

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Who was Squanto?

• Someone who could teach them when and where to
  catch fish

• Someone who could introduce them to local crops,
  such as corn, and teach them how to cultivate
  those crops

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Who was Squanto?

• Someone who was able to serve as translator
  between the Pilgrims and Massasoit, the leader of
  the Wampanoag tribe (the nearest Indians to
  Plymouth)

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With Squantos help a Peace Treaty is signed
with the Wampanoag
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The Pilgrims have a good harvest in 1621

• With Squantos help and in peaceful co-existence
  with the Indians, the Pilgrims are able to grow
  enough to take them through the next winter.

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In October, 1621, Governor Bradford declares a
day of public Thanksgiving to God

• Massasoit is invited and arrives a day early with
  NINETY other Indians! The Indians go hunting and
  add 5 deer and more than 12 wild turkeys to the
  menu!

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Thanksgiving Day
s

• One day becomes three! The Pilgrims and the
  Indians spend time eating and playing --

• wrestling

• Shooting contests with guns and bows

• footraces

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• For three days we entertained and feasted
• by the goodness of God, we are so far from want
  that we often wish you partakers of our plenty.

From a letter written by Edward Winslow to
relatives in England
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Their losses had been great -

• Almost half of their original group had died in
  the previous year including 14 of the 18 adult
  women who had come on the Mayflower.

And yet they gave thanks to God...
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For
Friendship with Massasoit
By providence landing in an area with peaceful
Indians

• A good harvest

Land that was already cleared for planting when
they arrived.
A safe voyage from England
The survival of almost half the group
Squantos friendship and help
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Accomplishments of the Pilgrims

• Laid the foundation for religious freedom
• Made and kept treaties with the Indians
• Wrote the Mayflower Compact
• The Compact was later used as a guide for the
  United States Constitution
• Began the tradition of the Thanksgiving Holiday

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George Washington

• Whereas it is the duty of all nations to
  acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, I do
  appoint Thursday, the 26th day of November
  1789that we may all unite to render unto Him our
  sincere and humble thanks for His kind care and
  protection.

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Thomas Jefferson

• I appoint a day of public Thanksgiving to
  Almighty Godto ask Him that He would pour out
  His Holy Spirit, and that He would establish
  these United States upon the basis of religion
  and virtue.

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Abraham Lincoln

• We often forget the source from which the
  blessings of fruitful years and healthful skies
  come. They are the gracious gifts of the Most
  High God.
• I therefore invite my fellow-citizens in
  every part of the United States to observe a day
  of thanksgiving and praise to our beneficent
  Father who dwelleth in the heavens.

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Abraham Lincolns Thanksgiving Proclamation of
1863 After listing blessings that the nation was
enjoying despite the fact that it was in the
middle of the Civil War, Lincoln said No human
counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand
worked out these great things. They are the
gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while
dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath
nevertheless remembered mercy I do therefore
invite my fellow citizens in every part of the
United Statesto set apart and observe the last
Thursday of November next, as a day of
Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father
who dwelleth in the Heavens.
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Samuel Eliot Morison

• Bradfords history is a story of a simple
  people inspired by a deep faithIt is this story,
  told by a great human being, that has made the
  Pilgrims in a sense the spiritual ancestors of
  all Americans, of all pioneers.
• Harvard University, March 1952

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For what can we be thankful?
The horn of plenty called a cornucopia which
means abundance.
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The Bible

• Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!
• 2 Corinthians 915

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Gobble Gobble
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Visiting an American Family

• It may be new for your host
• Write down your name if they have difficulty
• It is ok to not eat food served to you
• American Families tend to be informal
• Smoking Policies
• Use the opportunity to exchange culture!
• Many Americans have pets
• Americans sometimes tell jokes
• Americans are open about disagreeing
• Some families like to hug
• You are not expected to bring a gift.

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Acceptable Practices

• Ask to see the house
• Ask your host to repeat what they say
• Ask about viewpoints of Americans
• Ask for an extra blanket for your bed

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Usually not acceptable

• Dont ask about ages, how much money they make,
  or why they have no children. Dont ask how much
  their home costs.
• Dont stare at a person steadily
• Dont ask for financial or legal help

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Thanksgiving foods

• Turkey (hen, geese, duck, or ham)
• Stuffing - bread corn
• Mashed potatoes with Gravy
• Yams - Sweet Potato
• Cranberry Sauce
• Vegetables (asparagus, corn)
• Pies (Apple, Pumpkin, Mince Meat)

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Eating Etiquettes (Manners)

• Wait for your host to pick up his/her fork before
  eating
• Dont use your fork, knife or spoon to gesture.
• Butter bread on the plate, never in mid-air.
• Don't pick your teeth, apply lipstick, eat with
  your mouth open, or comb your hair at the table.
   
• When temporarily leaving the table, place your
  napkin on the seat or arm of your chair.
• Ask the host when desiring the bathroom.
• Put your cell phone on vibrate answer it only
  if you have to
• When someone asks for salt or pepper, pass the
  two together.
• Put the napkin on the plate when you are done.

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Christmas Party

• International students, visiting scholars and
• your families are invited!
• Sponsored by International Friendships, Inc.
  (IFI)
• Parkside Christian Church
• delicious homemade dinner
• drama and lots of beautiful Christmas music
• other fun activities
• time to just sit, talk, and relax after final
  exams
• Reservations required - go to http//www.ifiusa.or
  g/c/xmas.html
• For more information, contact Pat Durst,
  513-541-4192 or pat_durst_at_hotmail.com

Saturday, December 8 Meet at 520 PM, return
around 930 PM
Meet behind Morgens Residence Hall or at 510
Riddle Road to get a ride
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FLORIDA CHRISTMAS CONFERENCE

• DEC. 26, 2006 to JAN. 2, 2007
• Cost 385 (plus additional money for 1 park
  entrance fees and 10 meals)
• Registration on first-come, first served basis. 
  25 late fee after 12/1
• To register by December 1, go to
  http//www.iface.org/registration.htm and send
  payment of 385 to
• InterFACE, 3070 Palomino Trail, Mason, OH 
  45040
• Trip includes
• morning conference sessions
• 3 nights of Christian hospitality with a host
  family
• Sea World is paid for
• You may also choose to visit the Magic Kingdom
• (DisneyWorld) and EPCOT Center or
• Universal Studios is paid for
• For more information, go to www.iface.org/fcc.htm
  or contact
• Shaun Rudolph, 513-265-1957

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Basketball GameIndiana Pacers vs Houston Rockets

• Friday, Feb 1st, 2008 ,
• Meet at 330 PM at Morgan Dorm
• 10 per seat cheapest seats high up
• Additional small cost for transportation
• Please register at http//www.ifiusa.org/cincy2/re
  g.htm
• Give or mail check to
• Shaun Rudolph
• 3070 Palomino Trail
• Mason, OH 45040

see Yao Ming