Harvest Feast

The year was 1621.  It was a cold day in late November with a light snow falling to cover the earth.  Pilgrims had survived the two month voyage on the Mayflower and the difficult first winter in the New Land.  Thanks to the Wampanoag Indians, who were already settled near Plymouth, the Pilgrims produced bountiful crops to take them through the next cold winter months.

The few houses and meeting house in the Plymouth Colorny were busy and buzzing with activity today.  It was the first day of the Harvest Feast with the Indians.  Some of the Wampanoags had walked for two days to attend the festival to find, when they arrived, they must build a shelter for themselves.

Red coals glowed in the fireplace of a house at the edge of the woods.  A basket of food sat by the door.  Anne was ready to go.  Mother, Father and the brothers had already left.

"Hurry, Hannah!" shouted Anne.  "We can't be late for our first Harvest Feast."  Hannah was never in a hurry.  After what seemed a life time she reached for her cloak and bonnet that hung on a peg by the door.  The girls checked the fire, once again, picked up the basket and were out the door.  "Did you latch the door?" asked Hannah.  "I did" replied Anne.  "Come on."

The frozen earth was now covered with a blanket of white.  Their foot prints remained behind as they walked into the forest that surrounded the Colony.  Circles and wisps of breath preceded them in the cold air.  Their long skirts swished through the snow and left a trail behind.  As they entered the woods, they paused to watch an eagle circling overhead and a couple of squirrels scamper up a tree.

It was only a short distance through the trees to a clearing in the forest.  As the girls entered they were delighted by the huge bonfire and stood close to warm themselves.  Mother, Father, the brothers, all the neighbors and Governor William Bradford were there  Also there were the savages who frightened the girls a bit.  Hannah giggled aloud and wondered why these half-naked men did not freeze to death.  Eventually she saw they covered themselves with shawls and blankets. 

A long table, laden with Harvest bounty, stood in the middle of the clearing.  The girls were amazed at the amount of food.  There were all kinds of fish, venison, duck, turkey and swan.  Next was a large array of vegetables - corn, cabbage. potatoes, squash and pumpkin .  Nuts, berries, pies and an assortment of breads finished the feast.  Anne could not help but remember the two months spent on the Mayflower where there was little food, disease, death and the horrible stench of too many bodies.  However, this New World seemed to be worth all the hardships of the trip.

Governor Bradford started the meal with a blessing -

     "Heavenly Father, thank you for our many blessings, for our friends

     who have taught us much and for this harvest bounty of which we are

     about to partake.  In Jesus name.  Amen."

The Harvest Festival lasted for three days; inside the meeting hall and outside in the woods.  There were church services, games for young and old, much singing and dancing.  The language barrier did not seeem to be a problem  Friendship and love can overcome many things.  Hanna and Anne came to the conclusion that the New World was, indeed, a wonderful place to live.

Today this Harvest Feast is called Thanksgiving.  Regardless of how much we whine and complain  our country is still one of the most blessed on earth and giving thanks should be an every day occurance in our lives.

Hannah and Anne were correct - "The New World is, indeed, a wonderful place."

Gynith Roberts