The First Thanksgiving

Things You Didn't Know About the First Thanksgiving

The Thanksgiving today is very different from what the first Thanksgiving was. Firstly, Thanksgiving was looked upon as a time for prayer, giving thanks for the bountiful food and the friendship the pilgrims forged with the Indians.

Now it is considered a holiday and a day for celebration. This is not too far from the reasons behind the first Thanksgiving. On that day, pilgrims and Indians took the day off to eat, be merry and enjoy the company of one another.

Thanksgiving Food

The food during the first Thanksgiving meals was very unlike what we have today. The pilgrims and Indians had to contend with the food that was available at that time. In terms of meat, there was deer, venison, duck and other wild fowls. Turkey, as we know it today, was not available at that time.

Aside from the meat, there was a great deal of seafood, such as bass, clams, oysters and lobsters. This is because the sea and lakes were nearby. Interestingly, we rarely see seafood now as part of the Thanksgiving meal.

There were nuts and berries growing wild around the area. The Native Americans taught the pilgrims how to plant and farm on the arid land they were living on. However, the land was full of rocks and the soil was too acidic. The pilgrims could not successfully grow crops until the Native Americans taught them the technique of small gardens.

Gardening Basics Provided Some of the Main Dishes

Fresh vegetables are still part of the typical Thanksgiving meal.

There were small sections of land around the area that could grow crops. By limiting the gardens to the land that could grow the crops, the pilgrims enjoyed successful results. Although the harvests were small, it was enough for a family. And there were many small farm plots around the settlers.

The Thanksgiving meals included crops from the garden. There was corn, squash, and beans. The stalks of the corn were used for the vines of the beans. The beans provided nitrates to the soil, keeping it fertile for the next planting.

Thanksgiving: A Favorite Holiday Then and Now

The first Thanksgiving included fresh vegetables, fish and meat. Although they didn't have pumpkin pie, potatoes, and bread stuffing during the first Thanksgiving meal, the food the pilgrims and Indians shared was probably delicious.

Our Thanksgiving meals today have gone through a series of changes over the years. But despite the changes in food, we still maintain the tradition of giving thanks for our food, the family, and close friends. 

From everyone at Package From Santa, Happy Thanksgiving to all!

Thanksgiving Craft Activities for the Kids

 

Kids can show their creativity by making all kinds of crafts during the autumn season. Thanksgiving is an ideal holiday for craft projects. Kids can easily find many natural items such as pine cones, seeds and colorful leaves that can be used for their crafts. Plus, working on craft items is not only fun, it is also a great way to create awesome decorations for your home. Even simple craft projects can be used for Thanksgiving décor. The holiday is a good time for children to show off their talents and skills. At the same time, the kids get to learn and understand the true meaning of Thanksgiving.

Gathering Supplies

Children can gather the items for their craft projects from around the yard and neighborhood. You can guide them on deciding what craft projects will be undertaken. Then you can help them make a list of the different natural items they should get for their projects. Being organized makes it easier for the child to look for the items. 

 

The children will know the types and number of natural items they should gather for the project. For instance, the number of seeds, cones and leaves will depend on the craft they will make. A specific number of orange, red and brown leaves may have to be gathered to make a colorful centerpiece arrangement.

Don’t Forget the Turkey

One interesting craft project could be a turkey. After all, the turkey is the main dish in a Thanksgiving dinner. There are many unique ways of combining cones, seeds and leaves to make a turkey. The turkey can be displayed in some prominent area of the house. Having a craft project on display during this major holiday will make your kids feel proud.

A Simple Wreath or Flower Arrangement

A standard decoration is the Thanksgiving wreath. Instead of buying one, the children can get together and make one from cones, twigs, branches and assorted leaves. They can glue the items together to form a wreath. You can hang the wreath on the front door. The wreath serves as a welcome greeting to the visitors and at the same time, shows the talents and skills of the children. 

Another option is using a pumpkin as a vase and adding various leaves, flowers, grasses and pine cones to create a gorgeous flower arrangement. This can be used as an outdoor decoration or added to a tabletop indoors.

There are many craft projects that can be done for Thanksgiving Day. For instance, with coloring materials and paper, the children can make place cards and napkins with a Thanksgiving theme. Let your children mull it over. I am sure they can come up with some unique craft projects of their own.

Keep visiting this Package From Santa blog for more ideas about ways to make your Thanksgiving (and all holidays) more meaningful.

Simple Thanksgiving Decorations

Simple Thanksgiving Decorations

Thanksgiving is coming up fast. But you still have time to decorate your house.  The decorations don't have to be fancy. They can be very simple and still add a nice touch to the ambiance of Thanksgiving. Here are some ways you can decorate your home in a simple fashion and still bring out the elegance and spirit of Thanksgiving.

Color Matters

When you do your decorations, you should try to use the Thanksgiving colors of red, orange, brown, amber and green. For instance, your placemats, dining table centerpiece and tablecloth should use these colors. Good lighting can brighten up a room significantly. You can use colored candles to brighten up the rooms and maintain the ambiance. You can use vegetables, flowers or fruits as your centerpiece on the dining table. You should make sure the colors reflect the colors of Thanksgiving.

Pumpkins

Not only will lots of people serve pumpkin pies this Thanksgiving, many will use pumpkins as decorations. Although Halloween is over, you can still make your pumpkins more special by carving them. Why not carve a Pilgrim figure or a turkey into your Thanksgiving pumpkins? The pumpkins will look festive and will get lots of comments about your creativity. You can add a candle to the inside of the pumpkins and enjoy the wonderful fragrance. 

Wreaths

Most homes have a fall and Thanksgiving wreath as part of the decorations. Thanksgiving wreaths are a standard Thanksgiving tradition.

You can buy a ready-made wreath form or make one easily from branches and leaves. You should choose branches that are supple and can be easily bent. Twist the branches around and entwine them into a circle. You can use several branches so the wreath will be sturdy and firm. You can add leaves to make it colorful and bright.

You can hang the wreath over your front door so it serves as a welcome greeting to your visitors. Your visitors will immediately sense the warmth and hospitality of your home.

Family Photos

As a final touch, you could place family pictures around the house. This enhances the overall value of family bonding that Thanksgiving helps to represent. It makes the families bond closer together as they view the pictures and reminisce on past occasions. 

The team at Package From Santa is dedicated to helping you enjoy each and every holiday. Visit this blog often to keep up with tips and advice about kids, holidays, and lifestyle.

Quick Ideas For Thanksgiving Day Leftovers

Quick Ideas For Thanksgiving Day Leftovers

If you are like most people, right about now you have more Thanksgiving Day leftovers than you ever wanted. After all, eating the same foods – even if they are delicious foods – can get old after the second day. So what do you do with all those leftovers? We’re offering up some ideas…

Leftover Delights:

Sandwiches – You can make turkey sandwiches with the meat as is or you can make turkey salad (made just as you would make a chicken or tuna salad- get as creative as you like!).

Turkey Soup – Make this just like you would make a traditional chicken soup. You can turn it into a turkey vegetable soup or turkey noodle soup.

Turkey Pot Pie – All you need is 2 pie shells and the contents (just combine cubed turkey, thawed frozen vegetables, diced onions, cream of chicken soup & a small amount of milk). Pre-heat oven to 400 degrees – fill first pie shell with contents, then add the second pie shell to create the top. Poke a few holes in the top of your pie and bake for about 40 – 45 minutes.

Turkey Tetrazzini – Line a 13x9 inch prepared pan with cooked egg noodles. In a large skillet sauté 6 ounces of sliced mushrooms; then mix in 2 cups diced turkey, 1 can condensed cream of celery soup, 1 cup sour cream, and small amount of salt and pepper. Spread mixture over noodles. Top off with a generous sprinkle of Parmesan cheese – bake at 350 degrees for about 20 – 25 minutes.

Mashed Potato Pancakes – just add a beaten egg to 2 cups of leftover mashed potatoes. You can add shredded cheese, sugar, salt, or even add shredded vegetables. Fry pancakes in butter and enjoy!

Thanksgiving Day Casserole – This single dish is a great way to use up all or most of your leftovers. Add ingredients in layers – start with turkey, then add stuffing, followed by a layer of vegetables (whatever you might have leftover); next you can add a layer of shredded cheese or if you like and have it on hand, you can add a layer of cranberry sauce – mashed potatoes make the perfect final topping. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 to 40 minutes.

Debbie Allen is a professional content writer and editor. She loves sharing tips about things that relate to the holiday season – in fact, she often writes about traditions like real letters from Santa and holiday decorating ideas. When she’s not writing about these topics you will find her working on her site – The Things Women Want.