The best known of the "earliest recorded" autumn/ harvest-time
thanksgiving ceremonies on lands that later became part of the
United States and that involvied caucasian Christian Europeans
feasting with Indians (are all of those qualifiers enough?) was at
St. Augustine (Florida) on 8 September 1565.

On that occasion, Spanish colonists/garrison troops under
Pedro Menendez de Aviles (later of Don Luis and Chesapeake
infamy), heard a Catholic Mass and then dined with local
Timucua Indians on a menu of salt pork, sea biscuits (not the
horse), and garbanzo beans--in case anyone wants to vary
the fare this year.

For those interested in several scholarly commentaries (pro and
con) on the facts and mythology of the Pilgrim thanksgiving, go to

http://hnn.us/articles/16808.html

The History News Network always features timely topics.

Have a Great Holiday--no matter who's responsible for it!

Fred Fausz in St. Louis
(eating bison steaks this year)


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