Happy Thanksgiving Day!

/ Dora Hiers

Here’s a fun quiz to see if you know your Thanksgiving history. Answers

Fact or Fiction: Thanksgiving is held on the last Thursday of November each year.
Answer: Fiction. The date designated for Thanksgiving celebration is the fourth Thursday of November, never the occasional fifth Thursday.

What was the name of the ship that brought the Pilgrims?
Answer: The Mayflower

How many passengers were on board? 
Answer: 102

What were they seeking?
Answer: Religious freedom

What was the name of the Indian who taught the Pilgrims important tasks and what were they?

Answer: Squanto taught the malnourished Pilgrims how to plant corn, the best locations to fish and hunt beaver, extract syrup from maple trees, and which poisonous plants to avoid. He also introduced the settlers to the Wampanoag tribe.
When was the first Thanksgiving feast? 
Answer: In the fall of 1621, after the first successful corn harvest. Although earlier thanksgiving ceremonies have been documented, this feast is celebrated as the first.
Was turkey on the menu?

We don’t know. Edward Winslow, one of the original colonists, journaled that the Indians provided deer. They celebrated their first successful corn harvest, so most likely the menu featured corn. Also goose, codfish and lobster were probably on the menu. Unlike our custom now, because of a dwindling sugar supply, they didn’t enjoy pies that day. Awww…

That was fun. How did you do?
The Pilgrims honored God whether they were fasting during difficult times or celebrating in times of plenty.
What about you?
Do you honor God during your difficult times? 
What about when times are good? 
What are you thankful for today?
God, thank You for being my Rock in all the seasons of my life. Thank You for the Pilgrims who went in search of a land where they could enjoy religious freedom, and that I enjoy that privilege today. Thank You for the men and women who have fought, and died, defending our religious freedom.
Help me to honor You today and all days. Amen.