In front of them was the dream of freedom, and the endless ocean, which they chose to fight against the wind and waves, but what awaited them was the unknown land and the merciless famine.
In September 1620, a 180-ton and 90-foot wooden galleon, the Mayflower, began a voyage under the leadership of The Famous Puritan leader Bradford.
Around the end of the 16th century and the 17th century, the Puritans of England launched a fierce Reformation movement, declaring secession from the state church and the establishment of a separate church, advocating the removal of residual influence within the Christian Anglican Church. But in the middle of the 17th century, the Royalist Parliament passed (the Catechism Act), and the Puritans began to be brutally persecuted by the government and ecclesiastical forces, arrested, tortured, tried, and threatened the Puritans at every moment. Forced to take refuge in the Netherlands. In the Netherlands, however, the Puritans not only failed to escape religious persecution but also suffered the pain and suffering of war. What is even more unbearable for them is that in a foreign country, the children cannot receive a British education, and their feelings for their homeland are fading day by day.
The Puritans were preaching
In order to escape the clutches of religious persecution once again, they once again thought of the Great Migration, which preserved the language and traditions of the motherland for the next generation.
After several tossing and turning, they finally set their sights on the Americas. This "new continent" discovered by Columbus more than a hundred years ago is vast and rich in products, and there are many places where there is no king, no parliament, no executioner, and no undeveloped virgin land, so there is such a voyage.
The sea is windy and high, and the "Mayflower" is drifting forward with difficulty, and there is almost a danger of ship destruction and death at almost any time. However, with the joint efforts of everyone, the ship did not encounter any damage, and after 66 days of sailing, it arrived safely on November 11 in Cape Cod on the North American continent, which is today the port of Portsmouth, Massachusetts, USA.
The Puritans arrived in North America
It is a natural harbor with an excellent fishing ground near the port, and the fertile farmland that has been reclaimed is neatly arranged piece by piece. In addition to that, they saw a dilapidated house... It is an Indian village that was extinct by smallpox.
However, for these immigrants who aspire to a happy life, the first winter is not good. The bitter cold wind lapped mercilessly at the humble houses. Under the weight of busy labor and the threat of consequent infectious diseases, only 50 of the 102 immigrants who have come to the Americas through all kinds of hardships and dangers remain, and everyone's heart is shrouded in an unprecedented despair.
While the migrants were helpless and waiting to die, one morning a stranger came to the village. He introduced himself that he had been sent by the Indian chiefs of the nearby villages to observe the situation. This was the first guest the immigrants received after coming to the Americas. They confided in their visitors about their origins and the unparalleled suffering they had endured. The Indians listened in silence, their faces showing infinite pity and sympathy. A few days later, the Indian brought his chief, Masasod, into the houses of the immigrants. The chief was a generous and enthusiastic man, and he extended a warm welcome to the immigrants and brought them many necessities of life as gifts. The most experienced and competent Indians were sent to teach the settlers how to live on the land, to fish, to hunt, to farm. as well as skills such as raising turkeys.
The Puritans and Indians celebrated Thanksgiving together
In this year, the sky was beautiful, the wind and rain were smooth, and with the guidance and help of the Indians, the immigrants achieved a great harvest, and finally broke through the difficulties of life and lived a stable and prosperous life. In the autumn of that year, Bradford, who had become Governor of Portsmouth, issued the decision to hold a grand ceremony and thank God for his mercy, which was the first Thanksgiving Day in history. Of course, he did not forget the true "God" who helped the immigrants, the warm, hospitable, and wise Indians, who specially invited Masasod and his Indians to come to the festival.
The Indians gladly accepted the invitation and sent 5 deer as gifts in advance. One day at the end of November, the migrants feasted on tables filled with game from the woods and dishes made from homegrown corn, pumpkins, bamboo shoots, turkeys, and more. The celebration lasted for 3 days, with guests and hosts feasting and talking about friendship during the day. In the evening, a roaring campfire was lit on the grass, and in the cool autumn breeze, the Indian lads danced, sang, wrestled, and archered with the young men of the Portsmouth colony, and the atmosphere was very warm. This activity, which was later inherited, became a custom.
Thanksgiving scenes, Indians and Puritans coexist in harmony
By 1789, President Washington declared a national Thanksgiving Day on Thursday, November 26 of each year. At the festival, turkey and pumpkin pie are both must-haves. These two "treasures" reflect the nostalgia of the American people who remember the hardships of their ancestors and remember the first Thanksgiving. For Americans, the most important meal of the year is the Thanksgiving dinner. In the United States, a fast-paced and competitive country, the diet on weekdays is extremely simple. But on Thanksgiving night, every family has a big feast, and the abundance of goods is staggering. In the festival, from the president down to the common people, there are turkeys on the table. Therefore, Thanksgiving is also known as "Turkey Day" In 1942, the U.S. Congress passed legislation stipulating that the third Thursday of November each year is a Thanksgiving holiday, and Now Thanksgiving has become a very important holiday in the United States.
The Mayflower brought new immigrants from the Old World to the New World, and since Columbus's first voyage to the Americas in 1492, the two continents finally met in North America and created american civilization. Since then, the North American colonies have immigrated from different nationalities and countries, and in the long-term common life of several generations, using a common language based on English, developing a common culture, and developing a common economic life, so that the Americans have gradually become a new nation, and a new nation has finally slowly stood on the New World.
The creation is really not easy, send a thumbs up and pay attention to the warmth of the small editor [applause] [applause] [applause] [applause] [clap] [clap] [clap]