Boye Creative Group would like to wish you and your family a truly joyous Thanksgiving.
And Now, For a Little Good-Natured Turkey Day Humor and Conjecture…
Ever since that storied day in 1621, when the Plymouth colonists shared a long-fabled meal with the Wampanoag Indians, Americans have set aside one day each year for the express purpose of reflecting upon the many things (and sometimes people) for which we are thankful. Right? Actually, it wasn’t until 242 years later that Thanksgiving was made an official American holiday by Abraham Lincoln.
Was the First Thanksgiving an Outdoor Event?
Nearly all of the artistic representations of the first Thanksgiving show an outdoor event with a sort of long picnic table covered with huge platters and bowls filled with all manner of meats, side dishes, and deserts. At least that is what most of us were shown while growing up. However, it’s quite amazing that none of us ever questioned the validity of that setting. For instance, no one ever approached their first grade teacher and asked: “Mrs. So-and-So, did they really have an outdoor meal in New England, near the ocean in late November? Wouldn’t that be a little cold, damp, breezy, and uncomfortable?”
Google It!
This Thanksgiving, just for the fun of it, Google: “Plymouth Massachusetts weather” and check out the temperature and weather conditions that pop up. We’d be willing to bet it’s not going to be a scorcher.
THANKS-giving or Thanks-GIVING? That is the Question!
Around Western New York, when we say: “Thanksgiving” we emphasize the “giving,” but in other parts of the country some people emphasize the “thanks” as if to differentiate it from another holiday that ends with “giving.” These same people also say things like: “This is a day we won’t soon disremember” and, “I’ve decided to exercise anymore.”
Have You Picked Up Your Thanksgiving Lobster Yet?
Seriously, Plymouth was a seaside community; it only stands to reason that the local diet would have heavily consisted of seafood. Sure, the first Thanksgiving probably included a little wild turkey (we are given to believe that a little Wild Turkey helps to ease tensions arising from family drama around the dinner table), but it definitely included such seafood items as lobster, cod, and haddock. It may have also included other popular local cuisine such as rabbit, cabbage, dried fruits, and goat cheese. Oddly enough, it did not include current Thanksgiving favorites like pumpkin pie, mashed potatoes, and cranberry sauce. So, break out the garlic-butter and old bay seasoning (lobster bib optional) and dig in!
Gotta Go, Gotta Go!
It seems that people are eating their Thanksgiving dinner earlier and earlier these days in order to make time for other family activities like going to the movie theater, visiting with other friends and relatives, and shopping. This runs in stark contrast to the duration of the first Thanksgiving celebration, which was said to have lasted three whole days! However, it’s doubtful that the scene of the First Thanksgiving resembled anything close to the front lawn of a frat house early on a Saturday Morning (at least we hope so). After all, they were Calvinists.
Thank You for reading our post!
Happy Thanksgiving!
