Thanksgiving Day Holiday The United States In 1621, after a hard and devastating first year in the New World the Pilgrim's fall harvest was very successful and plentiful. There was corn, fruits, vegetables, along with fish which was packed in salt, and meat that was smoke cured over fires. They found they had enough food to put away for the winter. The Pilgrims had beaten the odds. They built homes in the wilderness, they raised enough crops to keep them alive during the long coming winter, and they were at peace with their Indian neighbors. Their Governor, William Bradford, proclaimed a day of thanksgiving that was to be shared by all the colonists and the neighboring Native American Indians. The custom of an annually celebrated thanksgiving, held after the harvest, continued through the years. During the American Revolution (late 1770's) a day of national thanksgiving was suggested by the Continental Congress. In 1817 New York State adopted Thanksgiving Day as an annual custom. By the middle of the 19th century many other states also celebrated a Thanksgiving Day. In 1863 President Abraham Lincoln appointed a national day of thanksgiving. Since then each president has issued a Thanksgiving Day proclamation, usually designating the fourth Thursday of each November as the holiday. Canada Thanksgiving in Canada is celebrated on the second Monday in October. Observance of the day began in 1879.

Thanksgiving Goose The turkey is the traditional bird to have for the Thanksgiving Day meal, but I remember as a child growing up on the farm we often had a goose for our Thanksgiving Day meal. My parents always kept a small flock of geese, and we usually had a goose for our Thanksgiving meal, and sold some of the geese to other people who visited our farm for their Thanksgiving meals. I recall the flock of geese walked all about our farm barnlot, and in our yard also. They were always honking and very noisy, especially if someone came too near the flock. My father said they made great watchdogs. As a small boy I was often chased by the old gander. If I came too near the flock the old gander would lower his head and hiss like a snake, and chase after me. He often chased my little dog Shorty also. Sometimes the old gander would nip the back of my legs with his beak if I didn't run away fast enough. The geese laid their eggs in the spring of the year in a nest that they made, then they would sit on the eggs until they hatched. Afterward the mother goose would raise the little geese "goslings", and the little goslings would follow her all around. Our geese were of different colors and breeds. Some of the geese were all white, and others gray and white. I enjoyed watching them go about the farm, and listening to them honking.

Let Us Give Thanks Let us give thanks, For this day, For this moment in time, For the miracle of life; Let us give thanks, For family and friends, For each act of kindness, For love we've been shown; Let us give thanks, For shelter and food, For the health we enjoy, For the beauty around us.

RAOK 2004 Thanksgiving Theme Award

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