On November 26th, when you gather around a beautifully decorated table with you friends, family members and other loved ones, take a moment to remember our nation’s history. Think of the stories you’ve read or heard about the horrendous year that began when a group of 102 religious separatists, as they were called, boarded the Mayflower ship on a journey to make a new life for themselves. Our team of outstanding Julia’s Florist designers are eager to help you bring the warmth of the season into your home, and especially to the table where everyone gathers to celebrate Thanksgiving Day.

After 66-days at sea, the group of freedom seekers dropped the ship’s anchor at the far eastern tip of Cape Cod. After a month of respite, they set sail again, this time crossing Massachusetts Bay and ending up at Plymouth Rock, the very location where the historic Plimoth Plantation site remains today.

Most of the soon-to-be colonists stayed on the ship over the winter because they had no shelter on land. When spring arrived, the group had dwindled to about half of the number with which they started. The rest of the group had died from Scurvy or other contagious diseases.

The area where they decided to settle was the territory of the Wampanoag Indian tribe. The settlers were quickly found by an English speaking Abenaki Indian, who introduced them to Squanto. Thankfully, Squanto also spoke fluent English, and he helped the colonists learn how to grow corn and other food crops, identify plants that were edible, tap trees for syrup, and fish and gather other seafood delicacies from the ocean.

Their hard work paid off the following fall when they were able to harvest the bounty from the seeds they planted the previous spring. The colony’s Governor, William Bradford, decided that everyone should celebrate their accomplishment with a feast. They invited the Wampanoag Indians, including their chief, and Squanto of course. This celebration is now regarded as our nation’s first Thanksgiving Day observance.

It wasn’t until 1863 during the peak of the Civil War that President Abraham Lincoln issued a proclamation that made Thanksgiving Day, an official national holiday. He decided it would be observed during the month of November.

Thanksgiving is all about making memories and spending time with family members. If you’re like many of us, it’s one of those rare times during the year when we get to see family members who live far away. That’s why we go to such pains to create an awesome looking table. We want our guests to cherish Thanksgiving Memories because we get to spend time with our loved ones.