Happy Thanksgiving

One hundred thirty-two souls left England on the good ship, Mayflower, in September of 1620. By spring of 1621, half were dead. The goal of the Pilgrims, as they would later be known, was to find a place where they could have freedom to have their own church apart from Catholicism and the Church of England.

The group had previously left England for Leiden, Holland, but found that city too liberal.

With borrowed money and the promise to payback in five years, the Pilgrims formed a company that would send wood, fish and other products from the “New” England to repay their investors. It took the remaining Pilgrims 21 years to pay off their debt and to lay legal claim to the land.

Their first Thanksgiving was truly one of thanks for a successful harvest in 1621 after being aided by the native Indians who taught them how to grow corn and beans. Deer was their meat for the meal, mostly supplied by the Indians who attended the three day feast.

From these 50 or so Pilgrims came the foundation for our United States, banding together for the good of all. More of the church members from Leiden would follow.

These were our beginnings. Now nearly 400 years later, we gather together to celebrate another year. It is estimated that the present day Thanksgiving dinner will be around 4,500 calories. Ouch.

You can start your diet tomorrow, but for today just gobble on Monticello. Happy Thanksgiving