How many of you remember singing the classic line, “Over the river and through the woods to Grandmother’s house we go?”
When I was a little girl in Detroit, my brother and I sang that song every Thanksgiving as we drove through the snow-covered roads on the way to our grandmother’s house.
Jeff and I, while we were wrong in fully believing that we would perform that ritual for the rest of our lives, have never forgotten all the traditions that came with that holiday.
Imagine the Pilgrims crossing the ocean with a dream and a prayer for a new life in a new world free of tyranny. They really had no idea what lay ahead of them, any more than I did after my family and I left Michigan.
It took them a lot of courage to begin all over again, away from family and the only land they had ever known, with no idea of what they would encounter when they landed.
Going back to our nation’s forefathers, those faithful, strong and hopeful people who occupied the area of Eastern Massachusetts were eventually called Pilgrims because they had made a pilgrimage to a new land. This area had previously been occupied by people of the Patuxet tribe. Unfortunately, the tribe died due to a powerful epidemic that took place between 1614 and 1620.
Our brave Pilgrims suffered from a brutal winter that killed half of their population. Their survival, the reason why many of us are here today, came from the Wampanoag tribe, who sent two ambassadors of sorts, Samoset and Tisquantum, to broker a peace.
It was thought that since these new immigrants had brought along women and children, they were unlikely to be seeking war, so they negotiated a trade deal and generously taught the Pilgrims much about agriculture and their foreign land. This tribe is a perfect example of welcoming people who have traveled from foreign shores.
Tradition says that when the harvest came in, due to their joint efforts, it was so plentiful, they decided to hold days of gratitude for the bounty. The celebration that first year lasted three days. The feast was prepared by the women, and the Wampanoag tribe shared in the feast.
Now, days of celebration in thanksgiving are not a new thing. Such days of gratitude, attributed to giving thanks to deities, have existed for thousands of years.
The Pilgrims’ heritage was tied to the days of Calvinism in New England in the 17th and 18th centuries. It is kind of cool to think that centuries later, Thanksgiving continues to bring people together in appreciation.
Back at the first Thanksgiving, according to tradition, their feast included wild turkey, potatoes, squash, corn and green beans. The famous green bean casserole that is served in so many homes today came way later.
The Wampanoag tribe brought their traditional dish called Nasaump, which included dried corn, local berries and nuts. But there were no pies, as butter, flour and sugar were still waiting in the wings.
Over the years the meal has grown to include stuffing, gravy, rolls and of course, pies. The feast also began to include regional favorites such as macaroni and cheese and, in the South, pecan pie. At our celebrations there must be blueberry bread, sweet pickles and green onions.
Like many of you, my family prays before we eat, and each person says what they are most grateful for; it is always a humbling and special time to take inventory of our blessings.
Speaking of blessings, can you imagine what our life would be like without the gift of maíz? Or corn, as we refer to it. Without it there would be no popcorn. What would we eat at the movies without it? What about corn nuts, cornbread, corn tortillas, corn chowder, corn syrup, corn oil and fuel? The list could go on and on.
We have created traditions in our country, such as attending church services, donating money and food to help feed the poor. Sadly, the need to help our communities only seems to increase.
One of my favorite things to do on Thanksgiving morning is to still watch the Macy’s Parade I watched as a wee girl. For my family, all things Christmas are legal once Santa Claus arrives at the end of the parade.
Thanksgiving has the largest day of travel, proving that the bonds of love, family and friends, centuries later, are still in style.
Thanksgiving is followed by Black Friday, the single busiest retail day of the year. I worked retail when I was younger, and believe me, folks, it can get kind of crazy out there. Once more I encourage my readers to shop locally for your holiday shopping and help your neighbors and community.
One of the hardest parts for me each Thanksgiving is remembering all those who can no longer celebrate with us. Then I remind myself of how blessed I had been to have known them. No matter what our troubles, we all have blessings to count.
My wish for all of you is that you celebrate this Thanksgiving with a full tummy and fuller hearts.
