Andre, You are partially correct. The first Thanksgiving was celebrated in 1621, one year after the English Pilgrim colonists (British Crown Citizens) arrived in Plymouth Massachusetts in 1620. None of them were from the indigenous Wampanoag Indian (Native American) tribe that inhabited the area at that time.
During the first year of the settlement half of the 102 colonists died of starvation. The local Indian tribe members helped-out (taught) the Pilgrims by showing them how to grow vegetables in the harsh climate. So more accurately you can say that any person living in the USA whether they are Native born, Green Card holders or Undocumented Aliens along with any American living outside the USA and whoever is standing next to him or her may celebrate the concept of Thanksgiving. It started-out (began) as a party to thank the Indians and God for helping the British Pilgrim city-folk learn how to grow corn and other crops by using dead fish as fertilizer. Now we give it a more religious tone and reflect on what things in our life we can be thankful-for (grateful) during the past year, even during the worst of times. You don't have to be a North American to appreciate and benefit from this family-gathering ritual. Heck, I see Halloween growing as a holiday here and that started as an Irish pagan ceremony for what I don't even know. Now it is a children's holiday to collect candy. Nobody in the USA follows the original pagan rituals anymore if ever. I and my Russian wife who I met in NYC in 1993 are having a Thanksgiving Day party today with a couple of Yanks and possibly a Brit or two who want to get-together (meet) for a party. I understand that Russians don't need an excuse for a party. Free-Time + money = party. I like that idea! So go enjoy Thanksgiving with anyone you want anytime you want. If anyone gives you a hard time about it, have them call me. My French Protestant (Huguenot) ancestor went to Plymouth in 1629. Good thing that the English Pilgrims got their act together before my ancestor, Richard Dole, got there. The funny thing is that we thought our family was Irish Catholic until 1995 when one of our family members saw our ancestral home designated a Landmark Home and turned-into (converted) a museum. Check-out its website. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dole-Little_House Have a Happy Turkey Day no matter what your nationality <!:). Warmest regards, Dr. George W. Dole ************************************************************************* On Thu, Nov 25, 2010 at 7:57 PM, Andre <[email protected]> wrote: In America Thanksgiving is a family holiday! Natural born Americans get together with their families, I guess. -- ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Quote: "Luck occurs when preparation meets opportunity". - Lucius Annaeus Seneca My Linkedin.com account for Dr. George W. Dole is: http://www.linkedin.com/in/georgewilliamdole.
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