Mayflower and Thanksgiving
What is Mayflower? Why is there no Thanksgiving in England? The ship below is Mayflower II.
Mayflower II, Plymouth, Cape Cod
(which is 30-minute drive from my house!)
A quick run through a small history.... Protestant reformation in England in late 1550s saw a group of Puritans move to Holland. Not able to bear the struggle to keep up their traditions, they planned to move to Virginia by making travel arrangements with Virginia Company.
A group of 35 Pilgrims with 70 more known as "Strangers" started their journey in 1620. Instead of arriving in Virginia, they landed in Cape Cod (current New England). This created a conflict between the "Strangers" and Pilgrims. Slowly, due to severe weather and disease, most of these colonists died.
Only half of the colonists remained who were helped by the friendly local people (Native Americans). Colonists learned to hunt and raise crops. In the celebration of the first crop in Fall, they thanked the locals. Hence, came into US the concept of Thanksgiving.
Mayflower II, Plymouth, Cape Cod(which is 30-minute drive from my house!)
A group of 35 Pilgrims with 70 more known as "Strangers" started their journey in 1620. Instead of arriving in Virginia, they landed in Cape Cod (current New England). This created a conflict between the "Strangers" and Pilgrims. Slowly, due to severe weather and disease, most of these colonists died.
Only half of the colonists remained who were helped by the friendly local people (Native Americans). Colonists learned to hunt and raise crops. In the celebration of the first crop in Fall, they thanked the locals. Hence, came into US the concept of Thanksgiving.
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