In the fall of 1621 the Pilgrims were certainly ready for a holiday! It had been a long, hard year. First there was the fearful voyage across the Atlantic in the Mayflower, then the cold, damp winter in Plymouth when half of the Pilgrims died. All summer the settlers had labored in the fields. Now they were rewarded. It was a good harvest! They would survive! 

Governor Bradford set aside a day of Thanksgiving and the friendly Indians nearby were invited to share the feast. What a feast it was! Turkey, deer, geese, clam chowder, roast corn, Indian pudding. There were games and parades.

Lee Wyndham shows how harvest festivals go back to ancient times and how they were celebrated throughout the world. She also tells of special Thanksgivings for victory and freedom. The American Thanksgiving is a combination of both. The Pilgrims celebrated the harvest and their new freedom.

Thanksgiving Day spread throughout the colonies and became one of America's most popular holidays. Today it is a time of family gathering when we are thankful for our blessings and honor the Pilgrims for the heritage they left us.

From the dust jacket