Thanksgiving Math

Happy Thanksgiving!

Let's have a quick TG math lesson, okay?

1. We did not invent Thanksgiving, nor are we the only ones to celebrate. The first North American thanksgivings known to historians are:

• 1565 by Spaniard Pedro Meñendez in St. Augustine, Florida in thanks for making a voyage safely
• 1578 by Englishman Martin Frobisher in Newfoundland giving thanks for making it back in one piece from his Northwest Passage expedition.
• 1598 by Spaniard Don Juan de Orñate in El Elizario, near El Paso, Texas
• 1604 by Frenchman Samuel Champlain and French settlers along with First Nations (Indians) participants
• 1621 by English settlers at Plymouth plantation with Indians
• 1763 by Canadian citizens of Halifax after New France was defeated and its land ceded to the British Canadians
• 1777 by American citizens led by George Washington after driving out the British troops
• 1863 by Americans when led by Abraham Lincoln at the end of the civil war
• 1942 by Americans when Congress finally set a specific date of 4th Thursday in November
• 1957 by Canadians when Parliament set the date on the second Monday in October 
  

2. But we shouldn't take too much credit for the idea of giving thanks for safety in the wilderness. More than two thousand years ago, in ~ 420 BC, the Hebrew people celebrated their return from exile and the start of rebuilding the temple. Here is the record from Ezra 3:

When the builders laid the foundation of the temple of the LORD,

priests in their vestments and with trumpets, and Levites with cymbals,

all took their places to praise the LORD, 

as prescribed by David king of Israel.

With praise and thanksgiving they sang to the LORD :

 "He is good; his love to Israel endures forever."

And all the people gave a great shout of praise to the LORD,

because the foundation of the house of the LORD was laid.

But many of the older priests and Levites and family heads,

who had seen the former temple [destroyed],

wept aloud when they saw the foundation of this temple being laid,

while many others shouted for joy.

3. Being thankful is more than > and not equal to ( ≠ ) family + turkey + parade + football + snow. Thankfully!

4. We can be thankful for all we are, for all we have, and for what we are not and do not have.

5. We at AnsMar Publishers Thank You for being part of the Excel Math family.

Brad, Janice, Bob

Jim, Becky, Dave

Carmen, Mike, Darcie