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Oakie's Heart To Heart
Vol. II, Issue 85 -- 18 November 2000
PILGRIMS & THANKSGIVING
Thanksgiving Thoughts --- It's been another week in the snowy Colorado mountains for this Oakie. What I have noticed up here in the higher elevation is the snow lasts longer, it's colder and it gets darker earlier than back home. (LOL) Down in Oklahoma we might get snow, but it melts fast and doesn't stay around for the whole of Winter.
As I settled down to writing this Week's newsletter, my mind is on Thanksgiving just around the corner. I decided to pay tribute and do a little research on our Pilgrims, Thanksgiving and the history they passed on to us. I found some interesting links on my "Google.com" search of "Pilgrims" & "Thanksgiving." I found a link that the "Avalon Group" set up with a six part journal of "Mourt's Relation" that was written primarily a yearly journal between November 1620-1621 by Edward Winslow and William Bradford. This is the way the feast was described in a first-hand account presumably by a leader of the colony, Edward Winslow, as it appears in 'Mourt's Relation' -- It gives an account of the Pilgrims lives. I have listed part-1 & part-6.
"Mourt's Relation" was written primarily by Edward Winslow, although William Bradford appears to have written most of the first section. Written between November 1620 and November 1621, it describes in detail what happened from the landing of the Pilgrims at Cape Cod, though their exploring and eventual settling at Plymouth, to their relations with the surrounding Indians, up to the First Thanksgiving and the arrival of the ship Fortune. Mourt's Relation was first published in London in 1622, presumably by George Morton (hence the title, Mourt's Relation).
"Concerning the Pilgrims Feast... Our harvest being gotten in, our governor sent four men on fowling, that so we might after have a special manner rejoice together after we had gathered the fruit of our labors; they four in one day killed as much fowl, as with a little help beside, served the company almost a week, at which time amongst other recreations, we exercised our arms, many of the Indians coming amongst us, and among the rest their greatest King Massasoit, with some ninety men, whom for three days we entertained and feasted, and they went out and killed five deer, which they brought to the plantation and bestowed on our governor, and upon the captain, and others. And although it be not always so plentiful as it was at this time with us, yet by the goodness of God, we are so far from want that we often wish you partakers of our plenty."
THE FIRST FEAST & HARVEST -- "The Pilgrims did have a feast in 1621, after their first harvest, and it is this feast which people often refer to as "The First Thanksgiving". This feast was never repeated, though, so it can't be called the beginning of a tradition, nor was it termed by the colonists or "Pilgrims" a Thanksgiving Feast. In fact, to these devoutly religious people, a day of thanksgiving was a day of prayer and fasting, and would have been held any time that they felt an extra day of thanks was called for. Nevertheless, the 1621 feast has become a model that we think of for our own Thanksgiving celebration and we do know something of the truth about it."
THE PILGRIMS -- "The Pilgrims were English Separatists who founded (1620) Plymouth Colony in New England. In the first years of the 17th century, small numbers of English Puritans broke away from the Church of England because they felt that it had not completed the work of the Reformation. They committed themselves to a life based on the Bible. Most of these Separatists were farmers, poorly educated and without social or political standing. One of the Separatist congregations was led by William Brewster and the Rev. Richard Clifton in the village of Scrooby in Nottinghamshire. The Scrooby group emigrated to Amsterdam in 1608 to escape harrassment and religious persecution. The next year they moved to Leiden, where, enjoying full religious freedom, they remained for almost 12 years."
THE MAYFLOWER COMPACT -- Agreement Between the Settlers at New Plymouth:
1620 IN THE NAME OF GOD, AMEN... We, whose names are underwritten, the Loyal Subjects of our dread Sovereign Lord King James, by the Grace of God, of Great Britain, France, and Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith, &c. Having undertaken for the Glory of God, and Advancement of the Christian Faith, and the Honour of our King and Country, a Voyage to plant the first Colony in the northern Parts of Virginia; Do by these Presents, solemnly and mutually, in the Presence of God and one another, covenant and combine ourselves together into a civil Body Politick, for our better Ordering and Preservation, and Furtherance of the Ends aforesaid: And by Virtue hereof do enact, constitute, and frame, such just and equal Laws, Ordinances, Acts, Constitutions, and Officers, from time to time, as shall be thought most meet and convenient for the general Good of the Colony; unto which we promise all due Submission and Obedience.
IN WITNESS whereof we have hereunto subscribed our names at Cape-Cod the eleventh of November, in the Reign of our Sovereign Lord King James, of England, France, and Ireland, the eighteenth, and of Scotland the fifty-fourth, Anno Domini; 1620. Mr. John Carver, Mr. William Bradford, Mr Edward Winslow, Mr. William Brewster, Isaac Allerton, Myles Standish, John Alden, John Turner, Francis Eaton, James Chilton, John Craxton, John Billington, Joses Fletcher, John Goodman, Mr. Samuel Fuller, Mr. Christopher Martin, Mr. William Mullins, Mr. William White, Mr. Richard Warren, John Howland, Mr. Steven Hopkins, Digery Priest, Thomas Williams, Gilbert Winslow, Edmund Margesson, Peter Brown, Richard Britteridge, George Soule, Edward Tilly, John Tilly, Francis Cooke, Thomas Rogers, Thomas Tinker, John Ridgdale, Edward Fuller, Richard Clark, Richard Gardiner, Mr. John Allerton, Thomas English, Edward Doten, Edward Liester."
With Thanksgiving just around the corner, let us remember those little things we take for granted plus the warmth of family and friends around us. Let us be thankful for what we have at the present and forgive those who trespass against us... BUT... If you can't do that, then do what is best and right for you! I am thankful everyday for the warmth of family of friends that I have gathered around me -- for the many friends, family that I have met out there on the web and in person. I am also thankful for the little things that I sometimes take for granted.
Don't you just love it when Friends, families begin to gather for their annual pilgrimage back to their roots?! This gives me and the McGill Wagner Family Thanksgiving Wish a chance to extend to Your family, the warmth, joy of this holiday season -- Thanksgiving. God Bless to Y'all during the coming Holidays!
o OAKIE'S MAILBAG/LINKS
MORE "COLORADO WINTER" SCENES...
Colorado Winter Outside.... Colorado Mtn Scene.... Winter Snow Horsemen.... Colorado Mtn View.... Irving & Sheeps Mtn Peaks.... Colorado Mtn Scene.... Winter Sleeping Aspen .... Colorado Mtn Sunshine.... Colorado Winter Sunshine....
_________"Hi Linda, I was just reading this page about an OKC bombing survivor. I finished reading the paragraph and thought I would share this story with you."
__________"I'm asking for your help..... My mother died 5 years ago from breast cancer. A few weeks ago I spoke with the groundskeeper of our (Enid) county courthouse and I am dedicating a tree in memory of my mom. The tree will be planted in about two weeks and a few days after that I am going to have a granite stone with her name set by the tree. We have decided to make this the 'Breast Cancer Awareness tree' and I plan to keep a pink ribbon tied around the tree year round. Because the tree will be dedicated during the holiday season, I wanted to decorate it, (as is customary of trees on the courthouse lawn) tying a pink ribbon on each branch and using angel ornaments. The tree is a 20' White Oak, so I will need many ornaments! If you have an Angel ornament pattern that you are willing to share, will you please forward it to me? Here's my plan: If you would like to send Aunt Runner an angel ornament to place on the tree in memory of a loved one, please do so as soon as possible. If you would like you can put the name of your loved one, (along with your location or any other info you like) on the ornament. I will take a photo of your ornament and place it on a special page that I am going to create especially for our Angel Tree. This page will include photographs of all angels that I receive plus the names of loved ones that they were dedicated in memory of. If you cannot send an angel, but would like a ribbon placed on the tree in memory of your loved one, please e-mail their name and I will happily put their name on a pink ribbon and place it on the tree for you. I will also include a list of these names on the Angel Tree Page on the website. If you have ANY questions please e-mail Aunt Runner rhonda@peakonline.com. Let me know if you plan to send an angel so I can reserve a spot on the tree for you... as well as a place on the web page. E-mail names for ribbons as soon as possible and I will be happy to place the ribbon for you."
Rhonda McCarver, P.O. Box 3271, Enid, OK 73702
Email mailto:rhonda@peakonline.com
AuntRunner Recipes
__________"Oakie- I am of Cherokee Indian Heritage, but cannot find any proof of my family in the Oklahoma territories..... can anyone help? I know my grandmother's information: Hazel Bell Harrington born 28, Feb. 1916 in Arkansas and died 8, October 1950 of TB in Talihana Oklahoma. Her mother a full blooded Cherokee was Maudie Dickey born 1882. I need documentation to be able to prove my indian heritage, but unfortunately all I have at this point is word of mouth. I have the lineage of the others in the family, but nothing on my Grandmother or Great Grandmother. Angel" -- Angel
__________"Hi -- My name is Tammi and I am interested in the surname MRKVICKA that you have posted on your hurt surname site and wondered if you had done any more research and retrieved any other info?" Please E-mail Tammi
__________THE PILGRIMS & AMERICANS FIRST THANKSGIVING -- "The Pilgrims, who celebrated the first thanksgiving in America, were fleeing religious prosecution in their native England. In 1609 a group of Pilgrims left England for the religious freedom in Holland where they lived and prospered. After a few years their children were speaking Dutch and had become attached to the dutch way of life. This worried the Pilgrims. They considered the Dutch frivolous and their ideas a threat to their children's education and morality." http://www.holidays.net/thanksgiving/pilgrims.htm
__________Some might think that the first thanksgiving was in 1620... But that was only the First Feast & Harvest for the Pilgrims. They didn't hold it the next year. The first thanksgiving tradition was proclamated in 1863 when Abraham Lincoln signed his Thanksgiving Proclamation in October.
__________THE FIRST THANKSGIVING: MAYFLOWER HOMEPAGE -- "The tradition of the Pilgrims' first Thanksgiving is steeped in myth and legend. Few people realize that the Pilgrims did not celebrate Thanksgiving the next year, or any year thereafter, though some of their descendants later made a 'Forefather's Day' that usually occurred on December 21 or 22. Several Presidents, including George Washington, made one-time Thanksgiving holidays. In 1827, Mrs. Sarah Josepha Hale began lobbying several Presidents for the instatement of Thanksgiving as a national holiday, but her lobbying was unsuccessful until 1863 when Abraham Lincoln finally made it a national holiday with his 1863 Thanksgiving Proclamation."
__________THE PILGRIMS FIRST FEAST -- Did you know the Pilgrims First Feast in 1621 lasted for three days? Find interesting history and lore about the holiday plus authentic recipes.
__________THE FIRST THANKSGIVING -- Researched and published by the staff at Plimoth Plantation of Plymouth, MA. The Living Museum of the 17th century, gives the truth behind the folklore of the First Thanksgiving.
__________SpringStreet.com -- The next time you're hunting for a new apartment or rental home, try this rental search site. Scan available rentals by city or by nearby college, look for a roommate, or find out about housing for seniors. The site also includes practical tips about moving, pets, insurance, and more.
__________The Official U.S. Time -- Improve your punctuality with a visit to the United States' official time Web site, which tells you the exact time, generally accurate within a second. The site features a clickable map that allows you to select your time zone as well as links to timekeeping-related Web sites.
__________As of January of 2001, www.OkLegislature.com will be open and accessible to the public. OkLegislature.com will provide free coverage to the general public of the activities in the next Oklahoma Legislature. This term promises many new and exciting votes on key issues that affect Oklahomans. OkLegislature.com will be online to cover all of these exciting occurrences as they happen.
__________o OAKIE'S QUOTES/POEMS
"It needs not then a trumpet blow, | It needs not that the world should know, | God's ears are open; | The heart thy thankfulness may tell, | Though from the lips no sound has fell, | A still voice answers, All is well, | Though all unspoken." -- by Scott Cummins (a.k.a. Pilgrim Bard), 'Thanksgiving Thoughts', Pilgrim Valley, Thanksgiving Eve, 1896 - 'Musings of the Pilgrim Bard', page 65, last verse.
