September 16, 1620

The Pilgrims were Separatists who broke away from the Church of England to continue the work of the Reformation. One of the English Separatist congregations emigrated to Amsterdam in 1608 to escape religious persecution. The next year they moved to Leiden, where, enjoying full religious freedom, they remained for almost twelve years. Discouraged by economic conditions in 1617, the congregation voted to emigrate to America. A small ship, the Speedwell, carried them to Southampton, England, where they joined another group of Separatists and were to pick up a second ship. After some delays and disputes, the voyagers regrouped at Plymouth, England aboard the Mayflower.

First Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving and the Pilgrims just seem to go together, but the truth is the Pilgrims never held a feast of thanksgiving. In fact, to these devoutly religious people, a day of thanksgiving would have been a day of prayer and fasting. But before you cancel the turkey, take a look at the three-day feast that the Pilgrims and Indians did hold. It was this harvest celebration that later became known as the First Thanksgiving.

[Continue reading The Pilgrims of Plymouth]

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