They've
been celebrating this memorial day for more than 260 years—the
longest continually-celebrated Thanksgiving in the country—and yet
many of us have never heard of it.
I
guess that's because the “they,” in this case, is not very many
people. It is estimated that Schwenkfelder
churches have a combined membership of fewer than 3,000 people. My
high school was larger.
But
it started a whole lot smaller. When the Schwenkfelder Society first
came to North America and settled in the Pennsylvania-Dutch region, there were fewer than 200 people.
How
is Schwenkfelder Thanksgiving celebrated? With a huge feast? Roast
turkey? Pies and cakes?
No,
it is celebrated with a simple meal of water, bread, butter, and
apple butter. This celebration first happened on this date in 1734, just two days after the
people had arrived in North America, so they didn't have crops to harvest.
The people were giving thanks that they had escaped the religious persecution they'd faced in Europe: being driven from their homes, imprisoned in
dungeons, even sold into slavery.
Did
you know...?
The
Pennsylvania Dutch aren't Dutch, but instead come from German
ancestry. In the past, Pennsylvania Dutch people commonly spoke
German, but nowadays most speak English; yet many German customs
still flourish today!
Another
thing we all loved was the delicious food available in Pennsylvania
Dutch country. (What's not to love?) Teri's Kitchen has a ton
of recipes so you can enjoy Pennsylvania Dutch cooking, too!
If
you like paper dolls, Heritage Paper Dolls website has a
Pennsylvania Dutch dress to be printed and colored. (Notice the PDF
file to download and print.)
Also
on this date:
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