[Fredslist] "THANKS - GIVING" - Read for your ENJOYMENT:

[fklein at legal.org]

From Gothamite Allen Kaye on Thanksgiving Day 2008. Worth repeating. Thank you Allen for the comprehensive study. 
------Original Message------
From: Allen Kaye
Sender: fredslist-bounces at gothamnetworking.com
To: Freds List
Subject: [Fredslist] FW: "THANKS - GIVING" -  Read for your ENJOYMENT:
Sent: Nov 27, 2008 12:46 PM

Happy Thanksgiving. 
  
    Allen Kaye 
  
  
  
A BRIEF HISTORY of our MOST INCLUSIVE HOLIDAY: 
  
In the fall of 1620, a group of Puritans broke away from the Church of England. On December 26, 1620, 
after a 65 day voyage, their ship, the MAYFLOWER, landed with 102 passengers on the rocky shores 
of PLYMOUTH, Massachusetts. Half of them would die in the next four months 
  
The territory was inhabited by the Wampanoag Indians, a nomadic tribe that moved along the coast 
from village to village, from Massachusetts through Rhode Island 
  
Previously, in 1605, Squanto, a member of the tribe, had gone to England with the English explorer 
John Weymouth. There, Squanto learned to speak English, and met Samoset, an Indian of 
the Wabanake tribe, who was also living in England. In 1620, both returned to Massachusetts 
  
One day while hunting, they came across a group of Pilgrims, whom they approached with a loud “WELCOME”. 
Needless to say, the Pilgrims were quite surprised to meet two Indians who SPOKE ENGLISH!!! 
  
Squanto decided to stay with the Pilgrims to teach them how to SURVIVE. The Pilgrims’ living conditions 
improved greatly, and they decided to have a feast to celebrate their good fortune. 
  
With the successful 1621 harvest season, Governor William Bradford proclaimed the first day of Thanksgiving 
in the Plymouth Colony. He invited the Indian leaders and their immediate families to join in a THREE DAY 
celebration. The Indians had large families, and their numbers overwhelmed the Pilgrims, who did not 
have enough food to feed all of the guests. 
  
The Indian leader Massasoit sent his men back to their villages to bring back more food. Thus, the Indian 
guests supplied most of the food for the three day feast. 
  
It was a VERY SPECIAL TIME of peace and friendship between two very different peoples. 
  
In 1863, President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed Thanksgiving a national holiday, to be held on the last Thursday 
of November. In 1941, Congress passed a law establishing the 4th Thursday in November as the official Thanksgiving. 
  
TURKEYS: 
Approximately 300 million turkeys, worth about $3 billion, are consumed each year, with 50 million 
consumed at Thanksgiving.  Average annual consumption per person is 18 lbs. 44% of turkey is consumed 
in sandwiches. 88% of American families will eat turkey today. Turkeys are indigenous to North America. 
Domesticated turkeys cannot fly, but wild turkeys can. They roost in trees at night. 
In 1947, President Truman was the first President to be presented with a turkey, from the 
National Turkey Foundation. The president “traditionally pardons” the turkey. 
  
MACY’S THANKSGIVING DAY PARADE: 
In NEW YORK CITY – Broadway’s LONGEST RUNNING SHOW.  
The first in NYC was in 1924. Gimbel’s held the first in 1921, in Philadelphia. 
Each marching band is selected about 1 ½ years ahead, to allow for fund raising, 
because the bands have to pay their own way to NYC. There is a NYPD officer with each 
helium balloon, plus an “Army of Volunteers”.  In 2006, a “Hot Air Balloon” was added. 
The parade was suspended from 1942 – 1944 for WW II. 
In 1948, NBC broadcasts the parade for the first time. 
An estimated 50 million people watch the parade on TV 
An estimated 3.5 million people crowd the streets to watch it go by. 
  
FOOTBALL: 
College football has been played on Thanksgiving Day since the 1880’s. 
In 1934, the Detroit Lions played the first radio broadcast of a professional game on Thanksgiving Day. 
  
TRADITION: 
This favorite of American holidays renews, year after year, the dream of American abundance, 
and our expressions of ”Thanks” for this abundance. 
The holiday will continue to flourish because of our diversity. The preparation of the turkey 
becomes a symbol for our multi – cultural interpretation of this unifying event. 
  
  
COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS…NOT THE CALORIES. 
  
             Allen Kaye 
  
  
  
  
  
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