Happy Thanksgiving, Pilgrim

Americans are a patriotic bunch and as the first 

Thanksgiving happened on what is now part of the 

USA and is often depicted as occurring under a flag 

pole that flies the stars and stripes we often assume 

the Pilgrims were Americans.

Not true.

There was no USA when the Pilgrims landed.

 

No 49th parallel.

Even the Toronto Maple Leafs didn't exist in

those far off days.

It was British North America and therefore we have 

as much right to those sanctimonious, self-righteous 

bigots of old as they do. 

So you can rest easy on the Pilgrim front, Canada 

and have a great Thanksgiving!

:)

Happy Thanksgiving, Pilgrim

English: "The First Thanksgiving at Plymouth" (1914) By Jennie A. Brownscombe (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

 

The Puritans and Pilgrims, (the former wished to stay within the English fold, the latter were Separatists), arrived in North America in 1620. 

The painting By Jennie A. Brownscombe, (above), done in 1914 is called The First Thanksgiving.

It shows healthy, clean settlers a year after the landing gathered in a lovely meadow in front of a cosy cabin. 

The table is heavily laden with the fruits of their labours while a docile group of native warriors sits like happy, grateful children in the background.

Right.

The truth is that the Puritans and Pilgrims blundered about for years, always on the edge of starvation. 

They managed to unfriend many of the aboriginal people whose land they were expropriating and they argued incessantly with each other and with their English overlords over theology and money. 

And if you've ever thought that you might have enjoyed being a part of that fun little group please remember that they are the same people who left us the legacy of the Salem witch trials.

 

But hey, I'm not here to spoil your Thanksgiving week-end!

If you are Canadian, eat, drink, be merry for the harvest is gathered.

And be thankful that beef was recalled this week, not turkey.