The “first” Thanksgiving

The idea of the “first” Thanksgiving as we know it today came from Alexander Young, who referenced an account of a three-day festival  in 1621 from a letter of Edward Winslow, a member of the Plymouth Colony.

The Thanksgiving we learn about in school and celebrate is based on this 3 day celebration of the Harvest. It was a feast with the Pilgrims and the Native Americans. The Wampanoag had helped the Pilgrims survive their first year in Plymouth, so the surviving colonists invited a group of Wampanoag to the Harvest Festival.

Seafood and other meats like deer and chicken probably were served with various meat and fruit pies and squash.

Lincoln was the first President to declare Thanksgiving a national holiday, This happened in 1863 when the date was set as last Thursday of November.

Black Friday has been a tradition since the 1930s: In 1941, Franklin Delano Roosevelt proclaimed Thanksgiving to be on the fourth Thursday of November, since retailers were concerned consumers would not have enough time to shop for Christmas.

Many American Thanksgiving traditions revolve around a huge meal, usually with Turkey as a centerpiece and family members Mentioning something they are thankful for.

 

Phoenix Zoolights - 25th Annual Holiday Event

Zoolights at the Phoenix Zoo returns on Wednesday, November 23rd, 2016.

Phoenix Zoolights features millions of lights, the annual holiday event is celebrating its 25th anniversary.

Zoolights creatively displays Christmas Lights shaped as monkeys, lions, giraffes, rhinoceros and more. New displays are added each year to keep the experience fresh for visitors. Viewers of all ages will find the vast array of light displays completely engaging. Bring your family and stroll the zoo while enjoying a cup of hot chocolate or apple cider. Make this a family holiday tradition.

Candy Lane features candy cane light displays and a "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" 4D Experience.




Zoolights 2016 is open from 05:30 PM to 10:30 PM nightly, from November 23rd to January 8th; Including Thanksgiving and Christmas.  Members only nights are on November 21st and 22nd.

Non-peak Nights
$10.95 for members
$12.95 general admission

Peak Nights
$17.95 for members
$19.95 general admission

For a neat way to increase the fun, try Wild Eyes Animal 3D Glasses which create floating animal images on any point of light.

The Phoenix Zoo opened in 1962 and is the largest non-profit, privately owned zoo in the United States. The zoo was founded by Robert Maytag (a member of the Maytag family) and sits on 125 acres of land.  Zoolights is the zoo’s largest fundraiser of the year and the proceeds go to help care for the 1400 animals that live there.

Remember the 5th of November - Guy Fawkes day

Remember, Remember the 5th of November

The Gunpowder Treason and Plot 

When the Protestant King James I took the throne on July 25, 1603, Catholics unsuccessfully petitioned him for toleration as they had been previously persecuted and subject to arbitrary laws under Queen Elizabeth I. Denied a change, 14 English Catholic men hatched a plan assassinate the king by blowing up the Houses of Parliament during the state opening of Parliament in hopes to replace him with his daughter

An anonymous letter sent to the William Parker, warned him to avoid the House of Parliament. The letter (possibly sent by Francis Tresham), was made public leading to a search of Westminster Palace on November 5th.

When the plan failed, members of the public celebrated by lighting bonfires around London. His body was subsequently quartered, and his head was placed on a spike above the London Bridge’s stone gatehouse as a warning to others.

Guy Fawkes day, sometimes called Bonfire Night is celebrated on November 5th, with the lighting of bonfires and even Guy Fawkes in effigy.