In Keeping With Thanksgiving, we want to tell you what we are thankful for this Happy Thanksgiving this year:
For each other
For all the kitty cat food we get to eat
Simba is thankful for being able to go out & "play"
Lady is thankful for "great places to sleep and eat"
Buster is thankful for "The Outdoors and Hunting"
We are all thankful for our Meowmie.
We all are thankful for our playthings
Our backyard and the birdies we watch through the window
Our nice house and all the nice stuff in it
And Meowmie is really thankful for us Kitties!
History of Thanksgiving
The traditional Thanksgiving is a combination of religious and harvest celebrations. The Pilgrim Feast of 1621 is generally what we think of when we think of the very first Thanksgiving. The Pilgrims had just had a really good harvest after a very difficult winter. To celebrate, the Pilgrims called for a huge feast!
In addition to the Pilgrims, 91 Native Americans attended. They probably had to eat outside at a big table. The celebration lasted 3 days, and included games, races, and other activities. Plus, of course, lots of food!
Though nobody's sure if they actually ate turkey, they did have venison and some type of fowl. And even though they couldn't eat pumpkin pie (because of a flour shortage), they did have boiled pumpkin! They also had berries, seafood, and fruits.
But that feast wasn't repeated every year. And it wasn't until 1777 that all 13 colonies had a thanksgiving celebration together. Most people credit Sarah Josepha Hale with making Thanksgiving an annual, and national event. She was a magazine editor who wrote lots of letters and articles about why we should make it a regular, national holiday. In 1863, President Lincoln agreed and proclaimed the last Thursday in November as Thanksgiving Day. But it wasn't until 1941 that Congress made it a totally legal holiday.
Lots of different countries celebrate a holiday like Thanksgiving. Whenever it is, it's a great time to be really thankful for all of your friends, and family! Have fun!
Thanksgiving Poem
With Our Warmest Good Wishes to You!
We hope you know that we've been
thinking especially of you. Over the
miles and through all the days apart,
you have been in so many of our
wishes and happiest thoughts.
Time cannot change the kind of
feelings held deep within the heart,
and no distance is so great that it
cannot be bridged by the warmest
wishes and the nicest memories
that life can give.
As this message comes your way,
we hope this day finds you enjoying
a wondrous time... with so much
to be thankful for.
Good and Gracious God, we come before you
today united with all who give You thanks and
praise. Fill us with gratitude for Your many
blessings, both physical and spiritual.
We thank You in particular this day for the
gifts of food and family. Bless this food,
Lord, that it may nourish our bodies. Bless our
family, especially those who can't be with us
today. Also today, we remember those of our
family who have gone to be with you.
Grant us Your spirtual blessings and help us
pray daily for the grace to serve You in
response to Your bountiful gifts to us. Bless
all who serve You throught the World.
We pray this in the name of Jesus, Your Son,
Our Lord, who gives all things freely
according to our needs. Continue to bless
us and give us Your peace.
