The hunters came back with wild turkeys, geese, and ducks. The Indians brought deer meat. In addition, there were fish, clams, and oysters. The Pilgrim housewives probably cooked some of their dried strawberries or cherries. However, there was no sugar. Therefore, they were unable to prepare English jam or jelly. The Indians contributed many kinds of vegetables, especially pumpkins. Today pumpkins are both food and decoration for almost every Thanksgiving table.
During the three days of celebration, the small group of women who worked very hard here were only a few young girls and a small number of children to help them. This little group provided food for the three-day feast for one hundred and forty people, including the Indian guests.
In the meantime, the men took part in various contests and games. The Indians competed with their bows and arrows. Both red men and white men competed in sports. The Pilgrim leaders usually considered games and sports as a waste of time. Of course, on this holiday their discipline was not so strict. However, there were constant prayers during the three days.
On the whole, it was a wonderful holiday for the Pilgrims after their winter of starvation and tragedy. However, they paid for this luxury during the following winter. There was very little food for anyone. They did not have a Thanksgiving feast the next fall. The harvest was too small for that. But, in spite of everything, they never had any regrets about their first holiday.
In the following decades, Thanksgiving Days were frequently held, sometimes twice a year, sometimes every other year, depending on the circumstances. Thanksgiving lost some of its New England character during the Revolutionary War. The continental Congress recommended eight days of Thanksgiving for the Continental Army on Thursday, December 18, 1777 and again at Valley Forge on May 7,1778. Washington became the first President of the United States in April 1789. Just before the adjournment(休會(huì)) of Congress in September that year, President Washington issued a proclamation for a Thanksgiving Day on November 26. He announced a second Thanksgiving Day six years later. After that, there were no Thanksgiving Days until 1812. President James Madison announced a Thanksgiving Day at the end of the War of 1812.
The history of Thanksgiving as a national holiday is largely the responsibility of Mrs. Sarah J. Hale. Mrs. Hale moved from Boston to Philadelphia in 1830. Then she realized for the first time that Thanksgiving was not celebrated at all in many states. In agreement with Mrs. Hale to her constant suggestions, President Abraham Lincoln announced the first national Thanksgiving Day proclamation on October 3, 1863. At that time, the country was in the middle of bitter civil war. Lincoln appointed the last Thursday in November as Thanksgiving Day. Each president, since Abraham Lincoln, has proclaimed a Thanksgiving Day for the nation as a whole.
Thanksgiving has hardly changed at all since 1621 in its intention and manner of celebration. Churches of all denominations are open on this day to give thanks for God's generosity. Thanksgiving is a family holiday. All over the country, husbands and wives， grandchildren, and great-grandchildren travel from city to town, from town to village, or from village to farm to spend the day at their old home. Many people would speak to their parents or grandparents by long distance telephone call.
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