lunedì 15 novembre 2021

༺ The First Thanksgiving Day ༻



The First Thanksgiving, 1621, by Jean Leon Gerome Ferris (1863–1930)


The first Thanksgiving is commonly traced back to 1621, when in the city of Plymouth, Massachusetts, the Pilgrim Fathers who had fled England to reach the New World, after nearly dying of starvation on their journey and learning to farm from the American natives, gathered themselves to thank the Lord who had granted them the Gift of a good harvest. However, at least a couple of traditions trace the origin of this holiday back to before then. The inhabitants of San Elizario, Texas, claim that the first Thanksgiving was celebrated in 1585 by the Spanish explorer Juan de Oñate, who survived, with 500 followers, crossing the Chihuahuan desert in Mexico. As soon as the thirsty travelers reached the Rio Grande River, they feasted on water and fish. While the Spanish admiral Pedro Menendes de Aviles may have celebrated the first Thanksgiving twenty years earlier, in 1565, in Florida, together with 500 soldiers and hundreds of Timucua Amerindians.
Although Thanksgiving has been celebrated since the 1600s, it wasn't until the 1700s that each State began to institute a day of celebration for this tradition. In 1789, George Washington, then commander of the Continental Army, proclaimed that a national day of public thanksgiving and prayer should be observed. But it was only with Abraham Lincoln, in 1863, that the last Thursday in November was set as the date still in vogue today (if you're interested in this topic I suggest you to click HERE and read the post that ~ My little old world ~ published about Sarah Josepha Hale who promoted this celebration to the president).
As for the traditional food that still accompanies this holiday today, as you all know, it is the turkey, 


Thanksgiving menu from 1899 at the Sturtevant House, a popular hotel between Broadway and 29th Street in New York (which was in operation from 1871 to 1903). 
75 cents for the whole meal was a pretty good deal, wasn't it?
 You could only get an entree for that much at The Plaza on the same night.


but why exactly this wild bird that lived spontaneously in the American bushes? 
Have you ever wondered why the turkey is the protagonist of the Thanksgiving tables for centuries?


Victorian postcard illustrating a typical Thanksgiving Dinner

This story takes us back to the time of the Aztec people, in the newly conquered Americas, who offered them in gift to the Spaniards who imported them to Europe. In a short time his presence became so common that everyone forgot where he came from. Ironically, the very American turkey was then "re-imported" over a century later to the Massachusetts coast by the Pilgrim Fathers of the Mayflower who started his intensive consumption.
And today, even in appearance, the 45 million turkeys that are served on American tables on the fourth Thursday in November are only distant relatives of those tasted by the conquistadors, of course!
It is not certain that in the first days of Thanksgiving they boiled, in the pot, the same dishes that abound today. For example, instead of turkey, it is likely that the main meats were initially those of wild deer procured by the Wampanoag Indians (those who would have helped the Pilgrim Fathers). In turn, the settlers would have preferred duck or geese to turkey. And certainly there was no shortage of seafood in these first banquets, including lobsters, clams, mussels and eels. Cranberry sauce and sweet potatoes would only appear on the menu at a later date.
And if the first Thanksgiving tables may have been varied, we wouldn't have seen the protein-based culinary extravaganzas of the last few decades. One of these is the "turducken" (from turkey, turkey, duck, duck and chicken, chicken). Basically a boneless turkey containing a boneless duck with chicken inside. The dish, very popular in Louisiana, would appear in butchers between 1970 and 1980, and would later become the emblem of Cajun cuisine (typical of the area). Even if the tradition of stuffing meats with other meats, such as matryoshkas, has even more ancient origins, in the French cuisine of the 19th century.


And so, my American friends of mine, 
let me wish you a Prosperous and Merry Thanksgiving Day!


And for those who aren't American, 
I'm sending my warmest embrace for wishing a loving week
See you soon 






Il primo Ringraziamento



- IMMAGINE 1 - The First Thanksgiving, 1621, by Jean Leon Gerome Ferris (1863–1930)


Il primo Ringraziamento viene comunemente fatto risalire al 1621, quando nella città di Plymouth, nel Massachusetts, i Padri Pellegrini che erano fuggiti dall'Inghilterra per raggiungere il Nuovo Mondo, dopo essere quasi morti di stenti durante il loro viaggio e aver imparato a coltivare dai nativi americani, si radunarono per ringraziare il Signore che aveva concesso loro il dono di un buon raccolto. Tuttavia, almeno un paio di tradizioni fanno risalire l'origine di questa festa a prima di allora. Gli abitanti di San Elizario, in Texas, affermano che il primo Ringraziamento sia stato celebrato nel 1585 dall'esploratore spagnolo Juan de Oñate, sopravvissuto, con 500 seguaci, attraversando il deserto di Chihuahua in Messico. Non appena i viaggiatori assetati raggiunsero il Rio Grande, banchettarono con acqua e pesce. Mentre l'ammiraglio spagnolo Pedro Menendes de Aviles potrebbe aver celebrato il primo Ringraziamento vent'anni prima, nel 1565, in Florida, insieme a 500 soldati e centinaia di amerindi Timucua.
Sebbene il Ringraziamento sia stato celebrato fin dal 1600, si dovette attendere fino al XVIII secolo prima che ogni Stato iniziasse ad istituire un giorno di celebrazione per questa tradizione. Nel 1789, George Washington, allora comandante dell'esercito continentale, emanò un proclama con cui sanciva che si dovesse osservare una giornata nazionale di ringraziamento pubblico e di preghiera. Ma fu solo con Abraham Lincoln, nel 1863, che l'ultimo giovedì di novembre fu fissato come data ufficiale per il giorno del Ringraziamento, data che rimane tutt'oggi in voga (se siete interessati vi consiglio di cliccare QUI e di leggere il post che ~ My little old world ~ pubblicò su Sarah Josepha Hale che di tale festa si fece promotrice presso il presidente).
Come tutti sapete, il cibo che tradizionalmente accompagna questa festa è il tacchino, 


- IMMAGINE 2 - Menù del Ringraziamento del 1899 allo Sturtevant House, un famoso hotel situato tra Broadway e la 29a  Strada a New York (che fu in attività dal 1871 al 1903). 75 centesimi costava l'intero pasto, mentre al The Plaza con la stessa cifra ci si poteva permettere in quell'occasione una sola portata!


ma perché proprio questo uccello selvatico che viveva spontaneamente nelle sterpaglie delle praterie americane?
Vi siete mai chiesti perché il tacchino è da secoli protagonista delle tavole del Ringraziamento?


- IMMAGINE 3 - Cartolina vittoriana che illustra una tipica tavola imbandita per la cena del Ringraziamento


Questa storia ci riporta ai tempi del popolo azteco, nelle Americhe appena conquistate, dove i nativi li offrivano in dono agli spagnoli che li importavarono in Europa. In breve tempo la sua presenza divenne così comune che tutti dimenticarono da dove in realtà il tacchino proveniva. Ironia della sorte, il tacchino molto americano fu poi "reimportato" oltre un secolo dopo sulla costa del Massachusetts dai Padri Pellegrini del Mayflower che ne iniziarono il consumo intensivo.
E oggi, anche in apparenza, i 45 milioni di tacchini che vengono serviti sulle tavole americane il quarto giovedì di novembre sono solo lontani parenti di quelli assaggiati dai conquistadores, ovviamente!
Non è detto che nei primi giorni del Ringraziamento si facessero bollire, in pentola, gli stessi piatti che abbondano oggi. Ad esempio, invece del tacchino, è probabile che le carni principali fossero inizialmente quelle di cervo selvatico procurate dagli indiani Wampanoag (quelli che avrebbero aiutato i Padri Pellegrini). A loro volta, i coloni avrebbero preferito l'anatra o le oche al tacchino. E di certo in questi primi banchetti non mancavano i frutti di mare, tra cui aragoste, vongole, cozze e anguille. La salsa di mirtilli rossi e le patate dolci sarebbero apparse nel menu solo in un secondo tempo.
E se le prime tavole del Ringraziamento fossero state variate, non avremmo visto di certo le stravaganze culinarie a base di proteine ​​degli ultimi decenni. Uno di questi è il "turducken" (da tacchino, turkey, anatra, duck e pollo, chicken). Fondamentalmente si tratta di un tacchino disossato contenente un'anatra disossata con un pollo, sempre disossato, al suo interno. Il piatto, molto popolare in Louisiana, sarebbe apparso nelle macellerie tra il 1970 e il 1980, e sarebbe poi diventato l'emblema della cucina Cajun (tipica della zona). Anche se la tradizione di farcire le carni con altre carni, come le matrioske, ha origini ancora più antiche, ovvero appartiene alla cucina francese dell'Ottocento.


E così, miei amici americani,
permettetemi di augurarvi un felice e prospero giorno del Ringraziamento!
E a coloro che americani non sono,
invio il mio più caloroso abbraccio per augurare una piacevole settimana 
A presto 






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33 commenti:

  1. A wonderful look back in Thanksgiving history. Beautiful.

    Thank you for joining the Awww Mondays Blog Hop.

    Have a fabulous Awww Monday and week, Daniela. ♥

    RispondiElimina
    Risposte
    1. Sandee
      It si I who thank you, again and always, dear friend!
      In the hope you had a lovely and blessed Thanksiving Day,
      I'm wishing you a most lovely end of your week to come ♡❤♡

      Elimina
  2. Thanksgiving is such a special time for being grateful for all our gifts in life.

    RispondiElimina
    Risposte
    1. Carol @Comfort Spring Station
      You are so fortunate to have such an important festivity... If it's true that we should be thankful every day we live, it's so beautiful to devote one day in particular to be grateful for all the Gifts in life, as you say... but we in Italy have another history in our background and another way to life religion, alas!
      Anyway, the way which I live my religion in, so as I was taught, is much more similar to yours :)
      Sending hugs and ever much love to you ❀≼♥≽❀

      Elimina
  3. Interesting background on Thanksgiving!

    RispondiElimina
    Risposte
    1. Janice,
      I'm sincerely glad to read that you liked this article of mine!
      Sending wishes for a beautiful day, today,
      and your weekend ahead ⊰✽*Ƹ̴Ӂ̴Ʒ*✽⊱

      Elimina
  4. Risposte
    1. R's Rue
      And I so love to have you here, sweet lady, yours is such a precious presence to me!
      Sending my dearest love to you ❥

      Elimina
  5. Thank you for the Thanksgiving wishes, Dany! It is a holiday that we enjoy as it is always good to make a special thanks for all our blessings. My younger brother has turducken every year but I prepare a large turkey for our celebration. I wish seafood was still traditional as that is always my favorite meal!

    RispondiElimina
    Risposte
    1. Pat @ Mille Fiori Favoriti
      I so love the way you live religion in, sometimes, I envy you... yes, I'd love to be an American citizen to share your traditions... Our religion is so different, alas, and less respectful than some principles I think to be fundamental.
      I went to religious primary and secondary school, and I was taught religion deeply, but fortunately I was a scout girl as a teenager, so I learned much more about morality and ethic than at school!
      I'm sure that yours was a wonderful Thanksgiving Day, Dearie,
      and let me send you all my gratitude for being so special to me ༺❀༻

      Elimina
  6. The exact origins of the celebration are a bit shrouded in mystery, as they probably should be, it's more romantic that way. We are supposed to simply be thankful, that's the main point.

    Ah, the turducken. My family doesn't cook one, but i know of many here who do. The latest tradition is fried turkey, or a fried turducken. Frying, though, doesn't give you the juices for gravy, and my family will not do without gravy.

    May you have a blessed and beautiful week!

    RispondiElimina
    Risposte
    1. messymimi,
      I'd love you to know that your comments are far precius to me, I feel so blessed by your presence here and by having you amongst my Blog-friends!
      •♥•♥• Thank-you hugs are coming your way •♥•♥•

      Elimina
  7. Goodness, Dani...so love this post. I'm always totally amazed at the printed historical menus from hotels, or even a tavern in the 18-19th centuries. How could a kitchen often just wood burning produce all that food. That would be a post in itself! Hugs, sandi

    RispondiElimina
    Risposte
    1. Sandi Magle
      Ancient menus from hotels or restaurants fascinate me too!!!
      I would have loved to have you commenting my blog post about the restoration hubby and I did... I'd love to have your opinion!
      Click HERE if you can and want to read it.
      Please don't feel constrained to do it!
      Sending blessings of joy on your day,
      with heartfelt gratitude ಌ•❤•ಌ

      Elimina
  8. Well I had no idea that the first Thanksgiving could have happened down south, very interesting. I also haven't heard of the putting the birds inside one another in Louisiana.
    Very intesresting!

    RispondiElimina
    Risposte
    1. Conniecrafter,
      I wanted to have the time to answer you all before than your Thanksgiving Day would have arrived to send you my good wishes once again, but I'm late, alas!
      Anyway, I'm sure you had a lovely day together with your dear ones, that's a festivity so important to find back all togeter especially after what happened during these last years...
      Thanking you for gracing my Blog once again,
      I hope that your weekend ahead holds much joy to you ♡ஐ♡

      Elimina
  9. ...an appropriate post for the season. Next week it will be wonderful to have our family together, last year it wasn't safe! Thanks Daniela for sharing.

    RispondiElimina
    Risposte
    1. Tom,
      That's what I wrote to Connie in the answer before, this year your festivity is more meaningful than ever, after everything we had lived lately!
      It is I to thank you, Dear Friend,
      may your days to come be blessed with Joy and Wonder ✿⊰✽⊱✿

      Elimina
  10. Non conoscevo tutti questi particolari riguardo il giorno del Ringraziamento, nonostante avessi letto già qualcosa a riguardo,perchè è una tradizione che mi ha sempre affascinato:la disperata traversata dell'Oceano,la complicata relazione con i nativi e le difficoltà del primo anno per i Pellegrini, mossi dalla volontà di tracciare un sentiero verso la libertà e il rispetto, iniziando dal coraggio della scelta di lasciare la patria senza garanzie sicure.
    Il menù dell'Hotel che si è proposto "in competizione" con il Plaza è una vera chicca!!
    Un saluto grande
    Franca

    RispondiElimina
    Risposte
    1. Franca,
      carissima, cosa sarebbe un post di ~ My little old world ~ senza un tuo commento, senza le tue riflessioni, i tuoi dolci pensieri, le tue delicate espressioni... quanto ti sono grata per tutto quello che mi doni ogni volta che vieni a trovarmi!!!
      Ti abbraccio forte forte e ti auguro una piacevole serata d'autunno ✥*⊰♥⊱*✥

      Elimina
    2. What a wonderful Dany are You !
      Franca

      Elimina
    3. Franca
      sei troppo generosa...
      Mi credi se ti dico che ti voglio tanto bene?!
      Ci sono delle persone che da qui hanno conquistato il mio cuore...tu sei una di loro e non lo dico per lusinga!
      Lo considero un Dono averti conosciuta ed averti vicina, davvero ❥

      Elimina
  11. Risposte
    1. Louca por porcelana
      I heartily thank you, I'm sincerely glad that you've enjoyed this reading!
      Sending blessings on the remainder of your Sunday
      and new week ahead ♡❤♡

      Elimina
  12. I'm thankful for your participation here, Daniela.

    RispondiElimina
    Risposte
    1. Magical Mystical Teacher
      And I'm so thankful to have you amongst my Blog-friends, sweet lady, you truly grace my pages and articles.
      Sending blessings to you and your dear ones ஜ~Ƹ̴Ӂ̴Ʒ~ஜ

      Elimina
  13. Risposte
    1. Deb Nance at Readerbuzz,
      I thank you from the bottom of my heart,
      I'm sincerely grateful for your so nice visit,
      blessed be ✿⊰✽⊱✿

      Elimina
  14. Thanks for the kind wishes and thanks for sharing at Vintage Charm! XO Kathleen

    RispondiElimina
    Risposte
    1. Kathleen,
      You're so heartily welcome, sweet friend!
      Sending blessings of Joy on your weekend ahead •ღ❤ღ•

      Elimina
  15. Thank you for sharing!
    I love all of your beautiful vintage pictures.

    Laurie
    Ridge Haven Homestead
    Homestead Blog Hop

    RispondiElimina
    Risposte
    1. Laurie Cover,
      It is I who thank you,
      your words fill my heart with deep joy!
      May your weekend to come be filled with gladness and smiles ༺❀༻

      Elimina

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