Why We Celebrate Thanksgiving Carolyn Lucas Brook Glenn Elementary November 4, 2003

A voyage to a new land The Pilgrims leave England on a ship called the Mayflower in September of The Pilgrims leave England on a ship called the Mayflower in September of 1620.

Life on the Mayflower The voyage to the New World lasted 66 days. The voyage to the New World lasted 66 days. There were 102 people that made the journey on the Mayflower. There were 102 people that made the journey on the Mayflower. Explore the Mayflower and discover what daily life was like on the Mayflower in 1620! flower/index.htm Explore the Mayflower and discover what daily life was like on the Mayflower in 1620! flower/index.htm flower/index.htm flower/index.htm

“tween decks” Can you imagine spending 66 days and nights with 102 people all in a room the size of a volleyball court? Can you imagine spending 66 days and nights with 102 people all in a room the size of a volleyball court? The Pilgrims had to live, eat and sleep all in one area of the Mayflower called the “tween decks”. They could only go up onto the deck of the Mayflower once in while. The Pilgrims had to live, eat and sleep all in one area of the Mayflower called the “tween decks”. They could only go up onto the deck of the Mayflower once in while. There was nowhere quiet to go even when you were sick, like the little girl in this picture. There was nowhere quiet to go even when you were sick, like the little girl in this picture.

Pilgrims land in new world The Mayflower sighted land on November 19, The Mayflower sighted land on November 19, 1620.

Signing the Mayflower Compact The Pilgrims signed the Mayflower Compact on November 21, The Pilgrims signed the Mayflower Compact on November 21, The Mayflower Compact were the laws that the Pilgrims promised to obey in the Plymouth Colony. The Mayflower Compact were the laws that the Pilgrims promised to obey in the Plymouth Colony.

The Pilgrims land in the New World The Mayflower landed at Plymouth Rock on December 11, The Mayflower landed at Plymouth Rock on December 11, 1620.

A Map of the Plymouth Colony

The Pilgrims establish the Plymouth Colony After spending Christmas on the Mayflower, the Pilgrims leave the Mayflower to start building the Plymouth Colony. After spending Christmas on the Mayflower, the Pilgrims leave the Mayflower to start building the Plymouth Colony. The Pilgrims did not have enough houses or food the first winter. The Pilgrims did not have enough houses or food the first winter.

Getting settled in Plymouth The first winter was very difficult. The first winter was very difficult. The Pilgrims could not finish all the homes before it began to snow. The Pilgrims could not finish all the homes before it began to snow.

The Pilgrims and Native Americans Meet The Wampanoag were called the "People of the Dawn". The Wampanoag were called the "People of the Dawn". They were already living in Massachusetts when the Pilgrims arrived. They were already living in Massachusetts when the Pilgrims arrived. The Pilgrims were a small group of Europeans who came to America in 1620 aboard the Mayflower and built the Plymouth Colony in Massachusetts. The Pilgrims were a small group of Europeans who came to America in 1620 aboard the Mayflower and built the Plymouth Colony in Massachusetts.

John Carver meets Massasoit leader of the Wampanoag John Carver was one of the Pilgrim Leaders. He was the first governor of the Plymouth Colony. He met with Massasoit, the leader of the Wampanoag Indians. John Carver was one of the Pilgrim Leaders. He was the first governor of the Plymouth Colony. He met with Massasoit, the leader of the Wampanoag Indians. Chief Massasoit, of the Wampanoag Indians offered friendship and help to the Pilgrims. The two groups exchange gifts and sign the "Treaty of Friendship." Chief Massasoit, of the Wampanoag Indians offered friendship and help to the Pilgrims. The two groups exchange gifts and sign the "Treaty of Friendship."

The First Thanksgiving: A Harvest Feast After the first year in Plymouth, the Pilgrims were thankful for their good harvest so they decided to have a feast of Thanksgiving. After the first year in Plymouth, the Pilgrims were thankful for their good harvest so they decided to have a feast of Thanksgiving. The Pilgrims and the Native Americans celebrated the harvest together in October The Pilgrims and the Native Americans celebrated the harvest together in October The feast lasted three days. The feast lasted three days.

What did they serve at the First Thanksgiving? The English serve wild turkeys, geese, and ducks. The English serve wild turkeys, geese, and ducks. The Wampanoag brought five deer, along with lobsters, clams, oysters, and fish. The feast also included cucumbers, carrots, cabbages, turnips, radishes, onions, beets, corn, and wild fruits. The Wampanoag brought five deer, along with lobsters, clams, oysters, and fish. The feast also included cucumbers, carrots, cabbages, turnips, radishes, onions, beets, corn, and wild fruits.

The First National Thanksgiving Day The first national Thanksgiving Day, proclaimed by President George Washington, was celebrated on Nov. 26, The first national Thanksgiving Day, proclaimed by President George Washington, was celebrated on Nov. 26, 1789.

How Thanksgiving became an annual Holiday In 1863, President Abraham Lincoln made it an annual holiday to be commemorated on the last In 1863, President Abraham Lincoln made it an annual holiday to be commemorated on the last Thursday in November. Thursday in November. That was almost two hundred years after the Pilgrims and Wampanoag Indians celebrated the First Thanksgiving in Plymouth! That was almost two hundred years after the Pilgrims and Wampanoag Indians celebrated the First Thanksgiving in Plymouth!

Our Thanksgiving holiday For three years (1939– 41), while Franklin D. Roosevelt was president, Thanksgiving Day was celebrated one week earlier. For three years (1939– 41), while Franklin D. Roosevelt was president, Thanksgiving Day was celebrated one week earlier. Then, by act of Congress, it is celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November. Then, by act of Congress, it is celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November.

How we celebrate Thanksgiving Today Today we get together with family and friends to celebrate Thanksgiving on the fourth Thursday in November. Today we get together with family and friends to celebrate Thanksgiving on the fourth Thursday in November.

Foods We Serve Turkey is the traditional food that we serve at our Thanksgiving feast today. Turkey is the traditional food that we serve at our Thanksgiving feast today. We also serve stuffing, cranberries, stuffing, and pumpkin pie. What is your favorite Thanksgiving food? We also serve stuffing, cranberries, stuffing, and pumpkin pie. What is your favorite Thanksgiving food?

Resoures Images are courtesy of : Images are courtesy of : Library of Congress, American Memory Collection Library of Congress, American Memory Collection Scholastic: The First Thanksgiving Scholastic: The First Thanksgiving Grolier Online Grolier Online