Dear Elena, today’s story is called Thanksgiving Day by Anne Rockwell. It’s about the holiday of Thanksgiving that is celebrated everywhere in America. It always falls on the 4th Thursday of November. It’s very special because it gives us a chance to focus upon our blessings.
In this book the teacher, Mrs. Madoff, tells the story of Thanksgiving to the children and they act it out in a play. She tells how the Pilgrims leave England and travel the long and hard journey to America, across the sea in a ship called the Mayflower. When they arrive, they meet the Wampanoag people who are already in this land called Massachusetts. The Pilgrams name their landing spot Plymouth Rock. They are thankful to the Indians for teaching them how to hunt wild turkeys, grow crops such as corn and for greeting them peacefully. They are thankful that the Pilgrims are kind, not mean and wanting to fight. All of them are grateful that the beautiful land of Massachusetts has enough good things for everyone.
So they celebrate! Both the Wampanoag Indians and the Pilgrims share their harvest feast one autumn day. The Pilgrams thank the Wampanoag people for all of the wonderful things they had given them. This is the first Thanksgiving.
Today, my very precious Elena, we celebrate with a huge feast. We invite family and friends to eat and share in the things the Pilgrims and Indians ate like turkeys, cornbread, cranberries, and stuffing. Mommy’s favorite is mashed sweet potatoes with browned marshmallows on top and pumpkin pie for dessert. In fact, of all the American Holidays, Thanksgiving is the most famous for eating and expressing thankfulness many things, especially family, friends and having enough food for everyone.
This year your Mommy and Daddy are so thankful that you are in our family for Thanksgiving for the first time. You are truly the greatest blessing we could ever ask for.