Five Sisters, Five Families: Traditions of Thanks

"There are only two contemporary accounts of the 1621 Thanksgiving: First is Edward Winslow's account, which he wrote in a letter dated December 12, 1621. The complete letter was first published in 1622.
Our corn [i.e. wheat] did prove well, and God be praised, we had a good increase of Indian corn, and our barley indifferent good, but our peas not worth the gathering, for we feared they were too late sown. They came up very well, and blossomed, but the sun parched them in the blossom. Our harvest being gotten in, our governor sent four men on fowling, that so we might after a special manner rejoice together after we had gathered the fruit of our labors. They four in one day killed as much fowl as, with a little help beside, served the company almost a week. At which time, amongst other recreations, we exercised our arms, many of the Indians coming amongst us, and among the rest their greatest king Massasoit, with some ninety men, whom for three days we entertained and feasted, and they went out and killed five deer, which they brought to the plantation and bestowed on our governor, and upon the captain and others. And although it be not always so plentiful as it was at this time with us, yet by the goodness of God, we are so far from want that we often wish you partakers of our plenty." http://www.mayflowerhistory.com/History/thanksgiving.php

In our family we have a tradition of giving thanks before we bless and eat our Thanksgiving feast. At each place around the table we put 3 kernels of corn to remind us how little the Pilgrims had to eat on their arrival to the New World. Even though they had so little when they arrived, they were still thankful for the blessings of the Lord.

After we talk about the Pilgrims we each take a turn to say three things that we are thankful for.