WHY DO WE HAVE THANKSGIVING?

The first Thanksgiving was in 1621 in which the Pilgrims had finally made it through a brutal winter where about 50 out of a 120 had died because of lack of having enough food. There was starvation, pneumonia and disease but the 70 that were left did not give up. They were determined and befriended the Indians of the Wampanoag Nation and drew up a peace treaty which was called the Pilgrim-Wampanoag treaty. Then Massasoit leader of the Wampanoag’s assigned Squanto, who was an Indian slave, to teach the Pilgrims important skills like how to grow corn, catch fish and find different kinds of wild berries and nuts. This enabled the Pilgrims to have plenty of food to survive the coming winter. That fall they had a celebration to thank the Indians for helping them and Thank God for blessing the harvest. This was the first Thanksgiving.

Why do we celebrate Thanksgiving? Because that was the beginning of the American dream and a day to give special thanks to God for all we have been blessed with.

Thanksgiving was declared a national holiday during the civil war in 1863. Abraham Lincoln stated in his proclamation, “Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwells in the heavens.”

In World War I, American people were inspired to cut back on all sorts of store bought food items so that they could sent food to the troops for Thanksgiving. The people in America put food together from their gardens for the Thanksgiving celebration.

In World War II, even though the war didn’t take a holiday, the U.S. military went out of it’s way to provide traditional meals, with all the trimmings, to the front lines during Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving meals at war time was a big moral booster and a time to celebrate and reflect on the better times.

Even during the Great Depression people on devote poverty and homeless still found ways to improvise and have a Thanksgiving using what ever there was available to put together a meal.

Through wars or hard times Americans have celebrated and gave thanks for being blessed to live in a free country and have all that God has given them.

Why is Thanksgiving so important? It’s a time of interconnectedness among people in these trying times. I think we need this day now more than ever. It’s a holiday that’s perfect for gathering with loved ones and expressing gratitude for our blessings. Forget the stupid mandates and be free Americans and start enjoying life again! Make the best of the Holidays they are meant to be a time to give thanks and enjoy being with family and friends. It’s time to start living again. At some point we have to recognize what is really going on: Social distancing and limiting gatherings is a way to divide us and take our traditional holidays away. It’s taking away our core principles and values that’s held us together and is protected by the Constitution.

Written By: Delmer Eldred

Website:  pulse-of-america.org Email: pulseofliberty@gorge.net

References: historyofmassachutes.org, eriecountyhistory.com,  worldwaronecential.org, sarahsundin.com