Thanksgiving Food for Thought

Thanksgiving in America began in the early 1600’s when protesters from the Roman Catholic Church of England left on the Mayflower to make a pilgrimage in search of new life in a new world.  In November, 1620, these Pilgrims found land and built a settlement.  They endured a harsh winter-- scarce food and much sickness; and 47 died.  But the following spring—March of 1621— native Chief Massasoit and some of his tribesmen taught them survival skills.

With the natives’ help, the Pilgrims had a big harvest in the fall of 1621;  and they invited the natives to join the feast, consisting of fowl, venison, seafood, cornbread, leeks, watercress, plums, and dried berries.    

Over 100 people attended the feast held at a granite slab that the Pilgrims called Plymouth Rock; and it’s noteworthy that at this feast, the native Chief Massasoit negotiated an agreement with the Pilgrims that no member of either group would harm anyone from the other group.  Both groups also pledged to leave their weapons at home when they traded.      

History tells us that the tribesmen ate this meal squatting on the ground and the Pilgrims ate at tables.  Maybe this is explained by the fact that the Pilgrims viewed the natives as heathens and savages.  And the Pilgrims also plundered the natives’ winter supply of corn after the feast was over. Some folks might believe that the natives and the Pilgrims lived happily ever after, but history tells a different story.  Between 1630 and 1642, the Pilgrims  killed many natives and sold others into slavery. 

In 1661, Chief Massasoit died, and his son Metacomet took over.  Known by his adopted English name (King Philip), Chief Metacomet continued to strive for peace.  He even took in Pilgrim women, children, and elderly who came seeking shelter. But the Pilgrims continued to violate the treaty they made with the natives, so Chief Metacomet and the natives attacked the Pilgrim settlements, leading to King Philip’s war of 1675, which killed 600 natives and 150 Pilgrims. 

Chief Metacomet’s older brother was killed in 1676, and history at this point becomes graphic and difficult to hear:  Chief Metacomet was beheaded and dismembered by the Pilgrims in August, 1678; and The Historical Journal of Massachusetts says that his head was impaled on a spike and displayed in Plymouth, Massachusetts, for 25 years. 

The arrival of the Pilgrims to the New World brought an end for the lives of indigenous Americans.  In 1831, tens of thousands of American natives were forced to leave their homeland and travel on foot to Oklahoma.  This deadly route is known today as the Trail of Tears.    

Natives walked through nine Southern states, and one of their rest stops was in Henry County, Tennessee.  Today we can see Trail of Tears signs on Cavender Road in Fulton, Kentucky.

Since 1970, indigenous Americans have gathered on Thanksgiving Day in Plymouth, Massachusetts, to observe a National Day of Mourning. So, during our Thanksgiving blessing this year, let’s not forget the people who were indigenous to our country.   Now let’s turn the page and reflect upon our own personal memories of Thanksgivings past.   

 My mother, Sue Ellen Pritchett, has been in heaven since 2009, and my father, James Pritchett, since 1979; but I remember all of our family Thanksgivings just like they were yesterday.

Thanksgiving dinner with my uncles, aunts, and cousins was at our house because Mama was the best cook.  Her turkey and “dressin’” (no final “G” on that word) J was something else.  She didn’t even have a recipe--She learned to make dressin’ by watching her mama make it. 

And for dessert, we always had Mama’s famous chocolate cake.  She got that recipe off the back of the Hershey’s cocoa can.    

My grandfather, Rayma Pritchett, always said our Thanksgiving blessing; and I remember the sound of his voice just like it were God Himself inviting us into His presence.  After Pa’s blessing, I remember a special time of going around the table for everyone to share what they were thankful for.  Wow.  Such sweet memories that are still in my heart today. . .  

 Everything was perfect and beautiful and just as it should be; but the thing I remember most is the absolute joy of being with the people I loved—all at the same time.  Little did my sister and I know that in 2024 we would have our own families with our own children and grandchildren to love and cherish— just the way our parents loved and cherished us.              

Everyone who reads this has special memories of Thanksgiving from days gone by.  Hopefully, this article will help to bring back these precious memories for each one of you. Happy Thanksgiving.