It’s the thanks and giving time of year.
First, the thanks part: Over this holiday weekend that many of us spend with family, let’s recall the first Thanksgiving in South Carolina. It was probably in French. Maybe Spanish.
More than 100 years before the English settled in Charleston in 1670, the French built a small wooden fort on what is now Parris Island. Known as Charlesfort in honor of the French king, it was abandoned after a couple of years.
Then in 1566, the Spanish established Santa Elena nearby as the northernmost settlement of its province of La Florida. For much of its first 10 years, Santa Elena was the capital of La Florida.
Both footholds in what is now South Carolina shared two things: the lack of a steady supply of food and tough living conditions. But French and Spanish cultures, like those of other European nations who sent explorers to the New World, had religious traditions of giving thanks, as outlined by Charleston library historian Nic Butler:
“It was common for the ‘commander-in-chief’ to issue a proclamation, at least once a year, setting aside a specific ‘holyday’ or ‘holiday’ for quiet reflection. That is to say, a day for people to refrain from all work and to focus their thoughts and prayers on a specific topic. Such proclamations might occur at any point during the calendar year, and might occur more than once a year, depending on what was happening in the local community.”
What did these settlers eat? There are no written records, but these settlers had access to wild game, including turkeys, as well as maize and marshes full of seafood. Maybe they had turkey and an early concoction of the state dish, shrimp and grits!
So while most students learn the Pilgrims celebrated the first Thanksgiving in Massachusetts in 1621, it’s more likely they merely followed a tradition of giving thanks that had been around for a long time.
Second comes the giving part. From now until we approach Hanukkah and Christmas, let’s focus on those in our community who are struggling for one reason or another. Maybe they used up savings for gifts to put food on the table in the shutdown. Maybe they’re looking for work. Maybe they’re facing inner struggles and turmoil.
Whatever is going on, many of us are lucky to have friends, family and good fortune. We encourage you to give a little extra of your blessings to local charities to help them do their good work throughout the Lowcountry. Give to a local food pantry or churches to do their ministries. Put canned goods in a blessing box. More than anything, keep your giving local so it helps people here who are in need.
Happy Thanksgiving and a month of holiday blessings!
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