While you’ve been working hard to prepare food for the big Thanksgiving Feast, I’ve prepared a recipe for great Thanksgiving Day discussions.

Q: Do we have any real documentation about the Pilgrims or is it all just legend?

A: Thankfully we don’t have to rely on contemporary history books who love to change facts in the name of Political Correctness to try and sort out the truth about the Pilgrims. Original Pilgrims who made the journey from Europe to this new world created great written records of their experiences which can be purchased and read today.

Two of the greatest Pilgrim documenters and historians were Edward Winslow and William Bradford. Their books are available for purchase online.

Skip the textbooks and go to the original writings!

Q: Was there ever really a Native American named Squanto? Who was he?

A: Yes, Squanto existed. He was a Native American living with his tribe at what would later become Plymouth. Years before the Pilgrims arrival in America, Squanto was captured by Thomas Hunt (A European, but not a Pilgrim) and taken to become a slave in Spain.  Squanto escaped Hunt and arrived in England where he was well treated and learned English. Squanto eventually made it back to his homeland in America 6 months to a year after the Pilgrim’s arrival at what became Plymouth.  Now with the help of Squanto and another Indian named Samoset who had learned English from English Fishermen who had visited America prior to the Pilgrims arrival, the English speaking pilgrims could speak with the Native Americans. William Bradford referred to Squanto as “a special instrument sent of God for their good beyond all expectation.”

Q: Were the Pilgrims cruel to the Native Americans or did they get along?

A: There were other groups of Europeans landing in America both before and after the Pilgrims arrived on the Mayflower. Many Europeans treated the Native Americans with hostility and violence, but the history of the Pilgrims shows that their particular group of pious Christians strove for peace with the Native Americans. A formal Peace Treaty was signed by both the Native American’s Chief named Massasoit, and the Pilgrims, in March of 1921. The successful relationship formed between the Pilgrims and their Native American neighbors provided protection and education in agriculture from the Indians, which greatly aided in the Pilgrim’s survival in America.

Q: Why do we eat Turkey on Thanksgiving and not Hamburgers, Steak, or Spaghetti?

A: Thanksgiving is not a widely recorded event. There is ONE SIGULAR detailed explanation of the event recorded by a Pilgrim by the name of Edward Winslow. Here is his account of the first Thanksgiving… you’ll notice they killed and ate “fowl” which is where we get our Turkey tradition from. Looks like venison would also be an appropriate choice to recognize the Indians meat contribution.

“Our harvest being gotten, our governor sent four men on fowling, that so we might after 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.”

Q: Why do Turkeys have gizzards?

A: Turkeys don’t have teeth to chew up their food with… just beaks to take the initial BITE. That’s why they have gizzards. They swallow rocks and the rocks stay in their gizzards. Then when they eat food, the food goes into their gizzards and gets mashed up and chewed up by the rocks to make the food easier to digest, when it moves from the gizzard to the stomach. Most all birds have gizzards because none of them have teeth, but in other birds the gizzards are internal so you can’t see them.

Thanks to two books in particular for a lot of this knowledge:

“Of Plymouth Plantation – Bradford’s History of the Plymouth Settlement 1608 – 1650” by William Bradford

And

“Plymouth in the Words of Her Founders – A Visitors Guide to America’s Hometown” by Dr. Paul Jehle

Both of these books are tremendous, highly recommended additions to home libraries for annual recognition as to the origins of Thanksgiving.

Happy Thanksgiving to you All! God Bless!