An Intentional Approach to Thanksgiving: Pilgrims for a Day

Thinking through how we wanted to celebrate Thanksgiving meant that we had to think about why we celebrate Thanksgiving. Creating a Thankful Tree is only step one to an intentional approach to Thanksgiving.

As is my nature, I scoured the shelves of our local library (virtually, mind you), and found this book: Pilgrim Stories by Margaret Pumphrey. I absolutely adored this book. I felt like I was in middle school all over again. I was stealing every moment I could get to myself so I could read the next chapter.

As I have read through the history of the Pilgrims, I was amazed at how little I remembered from school. I was fascinated to read about Scrooby Manor, Pastor John Robinson, the escape to Holland, the Mayflower, hardtack, the loss of half the passengers the first winter, Squanto, and so much more. MayflowerHistory.com intrigued me for hours. It’s the mother load of information.

I was even more fascinated to imagine what life must have been like on the Mayflower, for the women especially. This week our first nursing strike took place, and our world got turned upside down. I couldn’t help but imagine what it would have been like if this had happened during my voyage to America in 1621 on a ship devoid of sufficient food for a growing baby. My boy probably would not have survived – many didn’t. I would have buried him up on the hill with the majority of my friends in a world that I knew nothing about.

Could you imagine the hurt, the pain, and the many nights of crying yourself to sleep; yet, all the while believing in a God who works all things for our good?

I cried when I read of the first “Thanksgiving Dinner.” The fellowship and the relief they must have felt. They had known extreme hardship, but now they were overflowing with food and provision from the hand of God. They even had enough to share with their Wompanoag friends.

And although it be not always so plentiful as it was at this time with us, yet by the goodness of God, we are so far from want that we often wish you partakers of our plenty. ~ Edward Winslow, December 12, 1621

It was a sweet respite before more bad news and hardship, but it was a glimpse of what was to come for them. Oh, the joy they must have felt.  The feeling that it was all worth it – the seasickness, the tears, the hunger, the fatigue. The Lord had provided a way for them to worship Him in freedom in this new land.

Of course, they weren’t entirely free, but as we look back, we see that what they did made a way for us. Because now, I can walk into my church building and worship our Heavenly Father without fear. Not to mention, I have more than enough food to feed my family – sometimes I think I have too many choices.

In light of all of this, I want to help my family to remember what the Pilgrims went through in order for us to celebrate this national holiday – Thanksgiving. It’s not just another day to gather with family. It’s a time to praise God for providing a way for us to worship Him.

To do this, my family will be Pilgrims for a day.  Tonight, we will be having a Mayflower Dinner followed by a Plymouth Dinner. In the future, we’ll try to incorporate in some costumes and props. {I got the idea from Doorposts. You can read about it here.}

We’ll be crowding into a corner of our garage (where our stinky dog sleeps), and eating our Mayflower Dinner. I have prepared the meal for us to eat together. We will talk about what the Pilgrims went through. We’ll read stories, and we’ll try to imagine and experience what life must have been like on the Mayflower.

Mayflower Dinner

Salted Beef

Beer

Hardtack

There are several recipes for this, but here is what I found. I made ours on Saturday so it didn’t get as much time to age as I would have preferred. However, this is our first year, right?

• 3 cups wheat flour
• 1 cup white flour
• 1 tsp. salt
• 1/2 – 3/4 cup water (amount varies)

Mix dry ingredients. Add water to get a stiff batter.  Roll dough out thin, about 1/4 inch thick, and roll it up into a tube, like you would for cinnamon rolls or jelly rolls.  Beat it down for several minutes, then fold it and repeat for several more times.  Then roll it out very thick (around 1 inch thick) and cut into square biscuits using a knife.  Place on an un-greased cookie sheet.  Poke the biscuits on the top, very deeply (but not all the way through), several times with a knife.  Bake for about 50 minutes at 350 degrees. Turn off oven, and let the biscuits cool in the oven. Let age for more traditional hardtack.

Then, we’ll move inside to our warm home and enjoy a nice Plymouth Dinner. We’ll be eating traditional foods from that first Thanksgiving. We’ll read from the book of Psalms and worship God for what He has done.

Plymouth Dinner

Boiled Cod

Take a little water, and as much beer, and salt, and add herbs (parsley, thyme, and rosemary). Let all these boil together: then put in your cod (or salmon), and make your broth sharp with some vinegar. {I wish they had written clearer directions in “those” days. This really doesn’t make a lot of sense to me, but I’ll give a try.}

Stewed Pumpkin

I read that they would slice the pumpkins and dice the flesh. Add water to a pot and stew the pumpkins on low heat all day. They will cook down to look like baked apples. Then, serve the pumpkin with butter, vinegar, and spices like ginger, etc.

As a side note, I also read that stewed pumpkin “provokes urine extremely and is very windy.” If I’m reading that right, I think they are saying it makes you go tee-tee a lot and gives you gas? Is that how you read that? This gave me a giggle.

Strawberry Cornmeal

This was a Wamponoag treat. I might try to make some sort of strawberry bread from my strawberry stash. {not this year unfortunately, but I will try this next year}

We are so excited to start this little tradition with our family. I imagine it will be more meaningful as Samuel grows and more children (Lord willing) are added to the mix.

By the way, if you’re enjoying this post, please consider subscribing to my blog and receive a free copy of Healthy Holidays: Slightly Indulgent Sweet Treats.

What traditions does your family have for Thanksgiving? Leave a comment and tell me about it!

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