Most historians agree that the first Thanksgiving took place in Plymouth Colony in present-day Massachusetts in 1621. The Pilgrims and Indians supposedly had a feast to celebrate and give thanks to God for helping them pull through the rough months. More than 200 years later, President Abraham Lincoln officially declared the fourth Thursday in November Thanksgiving. Congress made it a national holiday in 1941. More families are together at this time of the year than at any other time. More traveling is done at this time by Americans going home for Thanksgiving.
I recall this long holiday weekend when I was a child. I thought it must have been established to give children a couple of days off from school to help with the farm chores. Most farmers used this time to grind cane and make syrup, butcher hogs and cook lard and have deer hunts. Sometimes, all three were accomplished.
We never had turkey on Thanksgiving Day when I was a child. Daddy did go turkey hunting many times and killed many wild turkeys, but we ate it the same day he brought them home. Mama sliced the breast and fried it and used the other pieces for rice or dumplings. Fried turkey was gourmet food for us and it still is special.
For Thanksgiving dinner, Mama boiled a fresh ham and then baked it in the oven until browned. Platters of cat squirrels were fried golden brown. Sweet potato pudding, chocolate layer cake and banana pudding filled our sweet cravings. Turnip and mustard greens were a must to go along with the other vegetables prepared for this special day.
With another Thanksgiving Day at hand, let us all take time from the hustle and bustle of our busy lives and be thankful for all the blessings of life, health, happiness, family, food, work and shelter. Thank God for letting us live in a land of freedom and opportunity. And we thank God for all our servicemen that help protect our country. We are blessed abundantly. I hope these tasty holiday recipes help make your Thanksgiving Day memorable.