Thanksgiving Trivia

[PAULBACH]

The Pilgrims Held the First Thanksgiving
Nope! Held in Texas - Texas can claim the first Thanksgiving in America actually took place in little San Elizario, a community near El Paso, in 1598 -- twenty-three years before the Pilgrims' festival.

The Pilgrims Ate Turkey
Nope! They didn't have corn on the cob, apples, pears, potatoes or even cranberries. No one knows if they had turkey, although they were used to eating turkey. The only food we know they had for sure was venison. (And they didn't eat with a fork; they didn't have forks back then.)

The Pilgrims Landed on Plymouth Rock
Plymouth PR! And anyway, the Pilgrims didn't land in Plymouth first. They first made landfall at Provincetown. Of course, the people of Plymouth stick by hoary tradition. Tour guides insist that Plymouth Rock is THE rock.

Pilgrims Dressed in Black
No Way!Black was worn only for very formal occasions and the occasional portrait painting.

For other other interesting Thanksgiving trivia check out this link. History News Network (http://hnn.us/articles/406.html)

The BMW Logos represents a spinning propeller (Oops - wrong thread)

[BeemerMike]

The Pilgrims Held the First Thanksgiving
Nope! Held in Texas - Texas can claim the first Thanksgiving in America actually took place in little San Elizario, a community near El Paso, in 1598 -- twenty-three years before the Pilgrims' festival.

Just another reason to love this great state! :)

The BMW Logos represents a spinning propeller (Oops - wrong thread)

Uhhh . . . not according to BMW . . . but then maybe they're just trying to put that whole WWI/WWII thing behind them.

[PAULBACH]

Just another reason to love this great state! :)



Uhhh . . . not according to BMW . . . but then maybe they're just trying to put that whole WWI/WWII thing behind them.

The blue and white is part of the Flag of Bavaria. One of these threads explains how the spinning propeller is a myth.

[535is]

The Pilgrims Ate Turkey
Nope! (And they didn't eat with a fork; they didn't have forks back then.)
Forks existed; the Pilgrims just considered them too 'fancy'.

Heck, I watch the History Channel, too. :lol

[PAULBACH]

Frankly, only someone from Pennsylvania would think of such a thing! :wave

[Holly]

We beat Texas by 20 years.

History and Origin of Canadian Thanksgiving

In Canada Thanksgiving is celebrated on the second Monday in October. Unlike the American tradition of remembering Pilgrims and settling in the New World, Canadians give thanks for a successful harvest. The harvest season falls earlier in Canada compared to the United States due to the simple fact that Canada is further north.

The history of Thanksgiving in Canada goes back to an English explorer, Martin Frobisher, who had been trying to find a northern passage to the Orient. He did not succeed but he did establish a settlement in Northern America. In the year 1578, he held a formal ceremony, in what is now called Newfoundland, to give thanks for surviving the long journey. This is considered the first Canadian Thanksgiving. Other settlers arrived and continued these ceremonies. He was later knighted and had an inlet of the Atlantic Ocean in northern Canada named after him - Frobisher Bay.

At the same time, French settlers, having crossed the ocean and arrived in Canada with explorer Samuel de Champlain, also held huge feasts of thanks. They even formed 'The Order of Good Cheer' and gladly shared their food with their Indian neighbours.

After the Seven Year's War ended in 1763, the citizens of Halifax held a special day of Thanksgiving.

During the American Revolution, Americans who remained loyal to England moved to Canada where they brought the customs and practices of the American Thanksgiving to Canada. There are many similarities between the two Thanksgivings such as the cornucopia and the pumpkin pie.

Eventually in 1879, Parliament declared November 6th a day of Thanksgiving and a national holiday. Over the years many dates were used for Thanksgiving, the most popular was the 3rd Monday in October. After World War I, both Armistice Day and Thanksgiving were celebrated on the Monday of the week in which November 11th occurred. Ten years later, in 1931, the two days became separate holidays and Armistice Day was renamed Remembrance Day.

Finally, on January 31st, 1957, Parliament proclaimed...

"A Day of General Thanksgiving to Almighty God for the bountiful harvest with which Canada has been blessed ... to be observed on the 2nd Monday in October.

[Mika]

Next Paul will be trying to tell us that the turkey could have been our National Bird. I know already but someone might not.

You mean I could have been the national bird!

http://m1ka.smugmug.com/photos/223993294-M.jpg

Hey dinner, what did you just say?

http://m1ka.smugmug.com/photos/223992983-M.jpg



They are still talking about that outside my back door. :rofl

[BeemerMike]

We beat Texas by 20 years.

History and Origin of Canadian Thanksgiving

In Canada Thanksgiving is celebrated on the second Monday in October.



Fair enough. I think we were only claiming to be first in the U.S.

I have a friend from Canada who has moved here, and has married another friend who is a U.S. citizen, so I guess she is staying (he has clearly stated that Canada is too cold for him!). She makes CANADIAN Thanksgiving for us all in early October, and then we have AMERICAN Thanksgiving in late November. Two Thanksgivings each year!

Hey, I guess that's another reason to love this great state! :)

I hope everyone has a Happy Thanksgiving tomorrow!

[Holly]

I don't think either Texas or Frobisher Bay were in the U.S. at the time. :wave

I have friends from WI who usually visit us for the Oct. Thanksgiving, thus getting two. It is a great idea for those of us with elastic waistbands.

Happy Thanksgiving to all of you in the U.S.

Holly

[The_Veg]

Fair enough. I think we were only claiming to be first in the U.S.

Texans always try to claim everything- as bad as New Yorkers! :nyah

[PAULBACH]

You mean I could have been the national bird!

Hey dinner, what did you just say?

They are still talking about that outside my back door. :rofl

I hope your post is not a prelude to bad news about Bernie and Agnes.
http://m1ka.smugmug.com/photos/112247608-M.jpg
Where are Bernie and Agnes?
http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g264/PaulBach/Misc%20Stuff/gasp02.jpg http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g264/PaulBach/Misc%20Stuff/deli.jpg

[PAULBACH]

Texans always try to claim everything- as bad as New Yorkers! :nyah

A Texan saying bad things about New York? Now that is the very definition of chutzpah. http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g264/PaulBach/Smilies/sportfencing.gif

[The_Veg]

I only live here- I don't claim to be one.

[BeemerMike]

I only live here- I don't claim to be one.

Opportunity only knocks . . . you have to open the door! :)