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John Jr sitting at a computer, looking intently at the screen with a curious expression
Thanksgiving was approaching quickly. John Jr and Yuēhàn were curious about how the first Thanksgiving came to be. John Jr decided to look it up on the internet. He began telling Yuēhàn about the Mayflower and the Pilgrims.
Christopher Jones standing on the deck of the Mayflower, with the sea and sky in the background
John Jr explained that the Mayflower was an English sailing ship. It transported a group of English families, known today as the Pilgrims, from England to the New World. After 10 weeks at sea, the Mayflower, with 102 passengers, reached the United States. They dropped anchor near Cape Cod, Massachusetts, on November 21, 1620. The captain of the Mayflower was Christopher Jones.
A Pilgrim reading by candlelight in the dimly lit interior of the Mayflower
John Jr went on to explain that the Pilgrims wanted to separate from the Church of England. They believed God wanted them to voyage to America. During the voyage, the Pilgrims passed the time by reading by candlelight or playing cards and games. Upon arrival on land, the Pilgrims were surprised to see the ground frozen, which made it hard to plant and harvest food.
A Native American teaching a Pilgrim how to plant corn in frozen ground
John Jr told Yuēhàn about the native Indians giving a hand to the Pilgrims. The Indians taught the Pilgrims how to gather food and survival skills. The help from the Indians saved 53 Pilgrims from ultimately perishing. Most of the Pilgrims died from diseases described as a mixture of scurvy, pneumonia, and tuberculosis.
A group of Pilgrims and Wampanoag Indians sharing a meal outdoors
The following year, the 53 Pilgrims and 90 Wampanoag Indians had a celebration. This celebration is what we now call Thanksgiving. They shared food and gave thanks for their survival. The Mayflower was torn apart after Christopher Jones passed away.
John Jr with a thoughtful expression, sitting next to a calendar with Thanksgiving circled
John Jr and Yuēhàn started counting down the days to Thanksgiving. They wanted to remember the Pilgrims and the Indians in a special way. They planned a special tribute and prayer. They wanted to honor the Pilgrims and Indians for their bravery and kindness.
John Jr drawing a picture of the Mayflower, surrounded by art supplies
John Jr and Yuēhàn gathered materials for their tribute. They made drawings of the Mayflower and the Pilgrims. They also made a big thank-you card for the Indians. They were excited to share their tribute with their family.
John Jr and Yuēhàn the panda presenting a Thanksgiving tribute
Finally, Thanksgiving Day arrived. John Jr and Yuēhàn shared their tribute with their family. Everyone was touched by their effort and the story they told. It was a Thanksgiving they would never forget.