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Editorial: Give thanks tomorrow

To many, Thanksgiving conjures up visions of the Pilgrims, Mayflower, Indians, turkeys and a huge celebratory feast that brought everyone together. They sailed to this country aboard the Mayflower, fleeing their homes in England to escape religious persecution. The Pilgrims set ground at Plymouth Rock on Dec. 11, 1620.

The first winter was devastating for the Pilgrims. Within nine months 46 of the original 102 who sailed on the Mayflower died. However, the harvest of 1621 was bountiful and the remaining colonists decided to enjoy a feast. The feast included 91 Indians who had helped the Pilgrims survive that first year. The Indians played a crucial role in the success of the Pilgrims' first year.

The original feast lasted three days. No one can be sure if turkey was actually a part of the feast. The term "turkey" was used by the Pilgrims in reference to any sort of wild fowl. The Pilgrims had no cattle for dairy products. The feast did include fish, berries, lobster, dried fruit, clams, venison and plums.

Today we enjoy pumpkin pie on Thanksgiving Day. Since the colonists had long since used up all their flour, there was no bread or pastries of any kind. Rather they feasted on boiled pumpkin and a form of fried bread created from their corn crop.

The Thanksgiving we celebrate today is much different than the first holiday in 1621. Our feast does not last for three days, but many of us will enjoy a four-day holiday beginning tomorrow.

Most of us do not shoot our own turkey. Instead we select that perfect turkey from the grocery store along with the prepackaged cranberry sauce, green beans, rolls, pumpkin pie and whipped cream.

The reason for Thanksgiving remains the same today as it did way back when - a day to express thanks for all that has come our way since last year. The holiday remains family-oriented and is a day to demonstrate to those dear to us that we are grateful they are in our lives.

For many, 2008 has been a rough year financially. Most of us have never seen such a bad economy. Hopefully, we will never see this again. Tomorrow on Thanksgiving, let's not think about what we have endured; let's look to the future. Things will get better. Tomorrow is a day to count our blessings while hoping for better things yet to come. It's easy to forget that we have so much to be grateful for. Celebrate the day and give thanks for all that you have and also for the unknown blessings yet to come.


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