Martinmas:  Click here for more information about this "giving holiday".

Thanksgiving – U.S. :

What has come down in American tradition as the "First Thanksgiving" was actually a harvest festival.  In the spring of 1621, the colonists planted their first crops in fields abandoned by the native peoples (Indians). While they had limited success with wheat and barley, their corn crop was very bountiful, thanks to an Indian named Squanto, who taught them how to plant corn in the hills, using fish as a fertilizer.

In October of 1621, the Pilgrims celebrated their first harvest with feasting and games, and giving thanks, as was the custom in England.  The celebration boosted the morale of the 50 colonists who had survived the long sea journey to the new world from Europe and hard winter that followed.  The first Thanksgiving dinner was also held to impress the colonists allies, and about 90 Indian men attended. 

For parents who have children that are interested in learning more about life in the North American colonies – including a virtual tour of the Plymouth Colony, an interesting website is www.kidinfo.com. For more about clothing of the time, and much more - www.kidsdomain.com is a great site.

Click here to find out the names of the Pilgrims who attended the first Thanksgiving celebration.

All the children prepare the dinner, husking corn, chopping broccoli, making and baking corn muffins and pumpkin pies.