What is Forefathers' Day?
On December 21, 1620, the Pilgrim Fathers' landing in Plymouth, Massachusetts, is commemorated each year. In 1769, the Old Colony Club of Plymouth, Massachusetts, established the observance. The town observes the holiday on December 22nd (except on Sunday, then on the following Monday).
Several activities have been held to honor the ancestors of 1769. The Old Colony Club honors the forefathers who were born in 1769. Members of Cole's Hill, next to Massasoit's statue, begin at 6:00 a.m. with a march by members to the top of Cole's Hill at 6:00 a.m. They read a proclamation in honor of the forefathers, followed by a ceremonial firing of the club's cannon.
As part of their anniversary, both the Old Colony Club and the Mayflower Society serve succotash dinners. Sauquetash was first reported as a part of the first anniversary. Suppash is served as a broth with large pieces of fowl and meat that are sliced at the table, unlike later versions of succotash in Plymouth. The Forefathers were not called "pilgrims" by the Old Colony Club, and the Old Colony Club did not mention them. The name didn't appear until much later.
Well into the 1800s, from New England to Los Angeles, churches, and other groups celebrated the day with meals they called "New England" dinners. The lessons learned in the years since the Plymouth settlers arrived were discussed in speeches. Some recalled their past. Others recalled their past.
How to celebrate #forefathersday
