Herald and Review from Decatur, Illinois • Page 33

e- Section irzrfzri inn i rzr Holiday would be much easier if Pilgrims 1 3t6 StGSk fes Comics Ell Body Shop E2 Donohue E3 1 i -Hm Landers E4 Thursday Television November 23 1989 Herald Renew Decatur, Illinois 1 Srv firm Yx i tH3 I lt GH a) of For our Western civilization, the tradition goes back to the Greeks, who annually celebrated a nine-day festival in honor of Demeter, goddess of agriculture. Eating well was the order of the day, then as now. The first Thanksgiving in America was proclaimed in 1621 by William Bradford, governor of Plymouth Colony, to thank God for the colonists' first harvest. The meal centered around roast goose, although venison was provided by the Indians who attended. Other foods included puddings composed of cereal and fruit, dishes of cooked pumpkin and cakes made of corn.

Partaking of that first Thanksgiving feast were about 50 Pilgrims and about 90 Indians. The second Thanksgiving was observed in Plymouth Colony on July 30, 1623. The occasion: rainfall after a drought. After 1630, a day of thanksgiving came to be observed every year after the harvest, and the practice spread to other British colonies in New England. The custom was also recommended annually by Congress during the Revolutionary War more than a century later and in 1784 to celebrate peace.

Thanksgiving Day first became a national holiday on Nov. 26, 1789, by proclamation of President George Washington. Even so, the observance was largely forgotten for many years. It didn't appear in the South until 1855. To help heal the divisions that caused the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln in 1863 proclaimed the last Thursday of November as a national holiday.

By 1867, Thanksgiving Day was being observed both religiously and gastronomically in Decatur. After several attempts to move up the date for celebrating Thanksgiving to lengthen the Christmas shopping season, the holiday was changed by an act of Congress in 1941 to the fourth Thursday of November. By THERESA CHURCHILL Herald Review Lifestyle Writer To a child, Thanksgiving means food and family. It's a day for special holiday treats, or perhaps a visit from a favorite cousin. Pilgrims and Indians? Their existence is vaguely limited to paper cartoons on a bulletin board.

Such images form the backdrop for an emerging understanding of what Thanksgiving means. The Herald Review visited a Decatur preschool, Kinder-Care Learning Center, to sketch this child's-eye view of our harvest holiday. Many of us, however, have forgotten the significance and lore of Thanksgiving Day. Contrary to popular belief, the holiday is neither strictly nor originally American. Indeed, festivals of gratitude for the harvest have been the custom of many cultures.

3 1 lifw, 1 rr- 1 What is this "i 7 9 'Sri? holiday II "I like Thanksgiving. I can play with my toys. My friends and cousins come over. Sometimes we play outside. We eat turkey at my house.

Also some chicken and some corn. Lisa and Lester and Cornelius and Brandon (most are his relatives from Chicago) were at the first Thanksgiving. I haven't heard of Pilgrims and Indians. You have Thanksgiving because you like each other." J.J., 4, son of Jeffrey and Sherry Perkins of Decatur "On Thanksgiving, we get to eat turkey and we get to spend the whole time with our family. I like turkey, mashed potatoes and green beans.

I will chew in the back because I have two loose teeth in front. I wasn't born by the first Thanksgiving; Mom and Dad were little tiny babies then and the grandmas and grandpas were their moms and dads. The Indians shared with the Pilgrims, and. Thanksgiving gives us a chance to share." Jenna, 4, daughter of Mike and Pam Gordillo of Decatur 1 i X' -ivr "Eating turkey is my favorite on Thanksgiving because I like the taste of it. I get to eat mashed potatoes and go to Grandma's.

I color pictures of my family. I color pretty rainbows. The Pilgrims and Indians shared their food because they didn't have any. I think they ate turkey. We have Thanksgiving so we can share turkey, mashed potatoes and cranberries." Sarah, 4, daughter of Jeff and Lisa Case of Decatur "I like eating Jell-O and ice cream and corn on the cob and hamburgers on Thanksgiving.

I jike playing outside and riding my bike. I can't think who was there for the first Thanksgiving. My mommy told me the Pilgrims and Indians shared their food. They did it because they're supposed to do rt on Thanksgiving. I think they had dinner outside, it must have been five years ago." Andy, 4, son of Steve and Bev Bell of rural Oakley "I want the orange kind of Jell-O for Thanksgiving.

I'm going to ask my mommy to give me some of that. I also like to eat turkey. Usually we take a nap. after dinner. The Pilgrims and Indians shared their food.

I don't know why. I forgot." Kayla, 4, daughter of Karen and Kent Ryan of Decatur "I like everything about Thanksgiving. I eat everything. I just like them little square carrots. I don't like the white dressing.

I like the other kind of dressing. My mom and dad never told me about Pilgrims and Indians. I think there have been six Thanksgivings. I have Thanksgiving at every single house. I'm thankful for everything." Blake, 4, son of John and Sara Strode of Decatur QUALITY Buds-N-Blooms BABY FURMTUME Childcraft Simmons Bassett Follow the feast with food video Crib And Bedding Combi and Baby Trend Office Shower Gifts .1 Chest-Dressers Strollers Emmaliunga Buqqies Fresh Locally Grown CHRISTMAS TREES Newly Cut Trees Every 3 Days! Great Prices On Quality Trees.

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22nd St Decatur, IL. 428-2800 Charge Card Delivery Slightly Higher HAPPY HOLIDAYS FKOM Knight-Ridder News Service Here's a video feast for Thanksgiving: Attack of the Killer Tomatoes! (1980) David Miller, Sharon Taylor. Low-budget send-up of low-budget occult-horror movies. Media, $19.95. Babette's Feast (1987, Danish) Stephane Audran, Jean-Philippe Lafont.

Witty fairy tale: A congregation of spartan Danes savors salvation when treated to an epicurean banquet prepared by a French chef. Oscar winner as best foreign film. Orion, $79.95. Consuming Passions (1988, British) Vanessa Redgrave, Jonathan Pryce. A secret ingredient brings a small chocolate company enormous success.

Virgin Vision, $19.95. Eating Raoul (1982) Paul Bartel, Mary Woronov. Macabre comedy about an eccentric couple who invite people over and kill them. CBSFox, $59.95. Fatso (1980) Dom DeLuise, Anne Bancroft.

Uneven but funny effort about an overweight man's pathetic attempts to lose weight. Playhouse, $79.95. My Dinner with Andre (1981) Andre Gregory, Wallace Shawn. Two friends discuss the meaning of life, money, electric blankets and much more over dinner. Unorthodox but very entertaining.

Pacific Arts, $19.95. A Private Function (1985, British) Michael Palin, Maggie Smith. In a ration-starved, food-obsessed England after World War II, the town establishment plans a bang-up dinner with an illegal pig as the main course. HBO Video, $79.95. Tampopo (1986, Japanese) Ken Watanabe, Tsutomu Yamaka-zi.

Juzo Itami uses an obsessive pursuit of the perfect bowl of noodles to satirize his countrymen, and the results are delectable. Republic, $79.95. Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (1971) Gene Wilder, Jack Albertson. Candy-crazy children tour a mysterious, magical candy factory. Adapted from Roald Dahl's book.

Warner, $1.95. FESEE Sleigh Rides Friday, Nov. 24th Saturday, Nov. 25th From 10 AM-1 PM and From 2 PM-5 PM BOYS GIRLS flu. Visit Mrs.

Santa in our Gingerbread house and eniov a delicious treat! Hnu Ni 2S (10 AM PM). Sun Nnu 9fi 11-d PM1 Decnbn Horn: Fri. PM. Sat. 10-S PM, Sim.

14 PM Managed Leased by Harold J. Carlson Associated, A Draper and Kramer Company CORRECTION: Photographs of Blake Strode and Andy Bell were revsrsed 11-29-89..