A large part of my heritage (46%) is Indigenous Americas-Mexico. My father was born in Phoenix, Arizona, so somewhere in the back roads of history my ancestors were part of Thanksgiving. I am also 46% Spanish, which links me to the Conquistadores who first came to Florida.
The First Thanksgiving
In elementary school I learned about the indigenous people and the Pilgrims getting together to celebrate the first Thanksgiving. The historic images were always the same; an Indian chief presenting a feast to the Pilgrims, and the Puritan women serving the meal. They all sat down and enjoyed a wonderful bounty. But is this what really happened? Or is this where fake news originated?
Yes, back in 1621 the Puritans, the English Protestants/Separatists, who wanted to break away from the stronghold of King James I and the practices of the Roman Catholic Church, came to a New World seeking religious freedom. They came across on the Mayflower and landed on the cold shores of Plymouth, Massachusetts.
Little did they know that the Wampanoag Natives had inhabited the land thousands of years before their arrival. Fifty -six years before the Pilgrims’ arrival, the Spaniards landed in Florida. Since it was the feast day of St. Augustine, they named the colony after the saint and built an altar to thank God for their safe journey. The Timucua Indians watched as the Spaniards celebrated Mass.
The Native Americans were invited to feast with the new settlers. The Timucua tribe may have brought wild game, squash and seafood, while the Spaniards may have cooked up some cocido, a Spanish traditional stew made with pork and vegetables. So in many ways this too was a great day of Thanksgiving.
Aside from being the oldest city in the United States, St. Augustine was the site of the first Mass celebrated in America. Equally important, the first mission to American Indians originated in St. Augustine. Since I’m half Spanish, my ancestors were part of that first Thanksgiving.
Abraham Lincoln
Can you imagine the stress level of this wonderful President? Abraham Lincoln was doing everything in his power to heal a broken nation. The Civil War was raging, and all the fighting was taking its toll. President Lincoln was distraught about the division in our nation and wanted to bring back unity in our country.
Sarah Josepha Hale, an American editor and writer, wrote to President Abraham Lincoln petitioning him to make Thanksgiving a legal holiday. Through her urging, in 1863 President Lincoln declared the last Thursday in November as Thanksgiving Day, making it a national holiday. In 1941 President Franklin Delano Roosevelt changed the date to the fourth Thursday in November to boost the economy and to kick off Christmas shopping.
Thank the good Lord for President Lincoln, whose recognition of Thanksgiving was credited to his great stewardship.
Thanksgiving Etiquette
If you are hosting Thanksgiving, you must display love. There is no place better than in your home to share the love of God. Your guests must feel welcomed as soon as they walk into the door. Love has no rules or boundaries, it does not hold on to past family events that did not go well. Love is the antidote to hate. So if you are holding on to hurt feelings from times past, you need to recognize it.
Many times our own selfish behaviors keep us from seeing the truth. If you have had a falling out with a family member, God has given you special graces to forgive. If you cannot forgive, then you are suffering from a hardened heart. There is nothing worse than a person who is set in their ways. They’re difficult because they feel that everyone around them should recognize their pain. News flash! No one cares! Because you have set your beliefs above everyone else’s feelings, they recognize that you are the problem.
Matthew 6:14-16 New American Bible (Revised Edition)
14 If you forgive others their transgressions, your heavenly Father will forgive you.15 But if you do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your transgressions.