Thanksgiving Tidbits (with Stuffing)
1621: Thanksgiving as we know it in the U.S. is modeled on the first ever autumn harvest celebration shared by 90 Wampanoag Native Americans and 50 Plymouth colonialists (Pilgrims). The celebration lasted three days; only five women were present.
1782 (more or less): Thomas Jefferson thought a Federal holiday for Thanksgiving was “the most ridiculous idea” ever. Benjamin Franklin, however (having proposed and advocated for selection of the turkey as U.S. National Bird) didn’t appreciate Jefferson’s slight; it’s believed that Franklin named the male Turkey “Tom” to spite Jefferson.
1846: Sarah Josepha Hale, a prominent writer, editor and women’s activist who’d also written, “Mary Had a Little Lamb,” began writing letters to the president to propose Thanksgiving as a national holiday. Her campaign spanned five presidents.
1863: Ms. Hale’s 17-year campaign finally reached success when President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed Thanksgiving Day a national holiday. For her dedication, many consider Sarah Hale the “Mother of Thanksgiving.”
1870s: The sacred correlation of Thanksgiving with football has existed since the mid-1870s, beginning with college football.
1981: Butterball established their “Turkey Talk” hotline (1-800-BUTTERBALL) when six home economists answered 11,000 turkey preparation questions between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Today Butterball turkey experts receive about 100,000 turkey-related calls in November and December. Advice is now also available through social media, texting or live chat.
1987: During the yearly National Thanksgiving Turkey Presentation, President Ronald Reagan granted the first presidential pardon to a turkey; the lucky recipient was then retired to a petting zoo. (President George H. W. Bush made the turkey pardon a permanent addition to the annual National Thanksgiving Turkey Presentation in 1989.)
The Teal Pumpkin Project — Have You Heard?
The Teal Pumpkin Project was created to ensure that all children are included in Halloween traditions by promoting safety, inclusion and respect for individuals managing food allergies. This worldwide movement offers an alternative for kids with food allergies, as well as for other children for whom candy is not an option. It keeps Halloween a fun, positive experience for all!
Halloween can be a tricky time for families managing food allergies. Many Halloween candies contain common allergens and are off limits to some. Additionally, many miniature or fun-size versions of candy items contain different ingredients than their full-size counterparts, and some miniature candies may not have labels either. All of this makes it difficult for parents to determine if the treats are safe for their kids.
Participation in The Teal Pumpkin Project is as simple as displaying a teal pumpkin at your home or place of business to alert trick-or-treaters that you have non-food treats for them. You can paint a pumpkin teal-colored OR print a sign online to post on your door. Many stores carry teal-colored pumpkin decorations as well.
These small, inexpensive items can be glowsticks, small toys, small craft items, and similar. Craft and dollar stores can be a gold mine of potential goodies. Here are some to look for:
glow sticks
bubble sticks
wristbands
pencils
erasers
lip balm
pens
sticker booklets
super balls
fidget spinners
crayons
mini bath bombs
yo-yos
key chains
playing cards
pencil toppers
mini notepads
Pick up some non-food items wherever you pick up your treat or treat candies!
#TealPumpkin #TealPumpkinProject #TealPumpkinProject2023
#Halloween #Halloween2023 #HalloweenEntertainment
#RTClown #RTClownOfficial #RobinCharin #Spooky
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