Introduction to Pilgrims What do you know about the Pilgrims? Test your Pilgrim knowledge!

TRUE OR FALSE? The first Thanksgiving was celebrated in 1621 and the Pilgrims celebrated it every year thereafter. The first Thanksgiving was celebrated in 1621 and the Pilgrims celebrated it every year thereafter.

False!! The first feast wasn't repeated, so it wasn't the beginning of a tradition. In fact, the colonists didn't even call the day Thanksgiving. To them, a thanksgiving was a religious holiday in which they would go to church and thank God for a specific event, such as the winning of a battle. The first feast wasn't repeated, so it wasn't the beginning of a tradition. In fact, the colonists didn't even call the day Thanksgiving. To them, a thanksgiving was a religious holiday in which they would go to church and thank God for a specific event, such as the winning of a battle.

TRUE OR FALSE? Christopher Columbus sailed to the New World before the Pilgrims made their voyage. Christopher Columbus sailed to the New World before the Pilgrims made their voyage.

TRUE!! Christopher Columbus landed in the New World in The Mayflower arrived at Plymouth in 1620, 128 years later! Christopher Columbus landed in the New World in The Mayflower arrived at Plymouth in 1620, 128 years later!

TRUE OR FALSE? The original Thanksgiving feast took place on the fourth Thursday of November. The original Thanksgiving feast took place on the fourth Thursday of November.

False!! The original feast in 1621 occurred sometime between September 21 and November 11. Unlike our modern holiday, it was three days long. President Franklin D. Roosevelt set the date for Thanksgiving to the fourth Thursday of November in 1939 (approved by Congress in 1941). The original feast in 1621 occurred sometime between September 21 and November 11. Unlike our modern holiday, it was three days long. President Franklin D. Roosevelt set the date for Thanksgiving to the fourth Thursday of November in 1939 (approved by Congress in 1941).

TRUE OR FALSE? The Pilgrims wore only black and white clothing. They had buckles on their hats, clothes, and shoes. The Pilgrims wore only black and white clothing. They had buckles on their hats, clothes, and shoes.

FALSE!! Buckles did not come into fashion until later in the seventeenth century and black and white were commonly worn only on Sunday and formal occasions. Women typically dressed in red, earthy green, brown, blue, violet, and gray, while men wore clothing in white, beige, black, earthy green, and brown. Buckles did not come into fashion until later in the seventeenth century and black and white were commonly worn only on Sunday and formal occasions. Women typically dressed in red, earthy green, brown, blue, violet, and gray, while men wore clothing in white, beige, black, earthy green, and brown.

TRUE OR FALSE? The Pilgrims dined on moldy cheese and stale biscuits aboard the Mayflower. The Pilgrims dined on moldy cheese and stale biscuits aboard the Mayflower.

TRUE!! The Pilgrims also ate dried beans and peas, salted meat, turnips, cabbage, parsnips, and onions. If you weren’t too seasick to eat, you would dine on the same old things day after day after day! The Pilgrims also ate dried beans and peas, salted meat, turnips, cabbage, parsnips, and onions. If you weren’t too seasick to eat, you would dine on the same old things day after day after day!

TRUE OR FALSE? The Pilgrims brought furniture with them on the Mayflower. The Pilgrims brought furniture with them on the Mayflower.

FALSE!! The only furniture that the Pilgrims brought on the Mayflower were chests and boxes. They constructed wooden furniture once they settled in Plymouth. The only furniture that the Pilgrims brought on the Mayflower were chests and boxes. They constructed wooden furniture once they settled in Plymouth.

TRUE OR FALSE? The Mayflower was headed for Virginia, but due to a navigational mistake it ended up in Cape Cod Massachusetts. The Mayflower was headed for Virginia, but due to a navigational mistake it ended up in Cape Cod Massachusetts. Not there! Up here!

FALSE!! The Pilgrims were in fact planning to settle in Virginia, but not the modern- day state of Virginia. The Pilgrims had intended to go to the Hudson River region in New York State, which would have been considered "Northern Virginia," but they landed in Cape Cod instead. Treacherous seas prevented them from venturing further south. The Pilgrims were in fact planning to settle in Virginia, but not the modern- day state of Virginia. The Pilgrims had intended to go to the Hudson River region in New York State, which would have been considered "Northern Virginia," but they landed in Cape Cod instead. Treacherous seas prevented them from venturing further south.

TRUE OR FALSE? The Pilgrims called themselves “Pilgrims.” The Pilgrims called themselves “Pilgrims.”

FALSE!! The Pilgrims actually called themselves “First Comers” or “Saints.” The name Pilgrim comes from a book that one of the Pilgrims, William Bradford, wrote many years after the Mayflower landed. He referred to his fellow settlers as “pilgrims” because a pilgrim is someone who takes a “pilgrimage”– a journey to a holy land. The Pilgrims actually called themselves “First Comers” or “Saints.” The name Pilgrim comes from a book that one of the Pilgrims, William Bradford, wrote many years after the Mayflower landed. He referred to his fellow settlers as “pilgrims” because a pilgrim is someone who takes a “pilgrimage”– a journey to a holy land.

TRUE OR FALSE? All the people abroad the Mayflower were Pilgrims. All the people abroad the Mayflower were Pilgrims.

FALSE!! Of the 102 passengers on board the Mayflower, including approximately 34 children, only 50 passengers were Pilgrims. There were sailors aboard the Mayflower, as well as two dogs, lots of rats, mice, lice, maggots, and probably cats (to chase the mice), goats, pigs, and chickens! Of the 102 passengers on board the Mayflower, including approximately 34 children, only 50 passengers were Pilgrims. There were sailors aboard the Mayflower, as well as two dogs, lots of rats, mice, lice, maggots, and probably cats (to chase the mice), goats, pigs, and chickens!

TRUE OR FALSE? The Pilgrims did not have very many hot meals aboard the Mayflower. The Pilgrims did not have very many hot meals aboard the Mayflower.

TRUE!! The Pilgrims did cook aboard the Mayflower, but probably not very often. The sea had to be very calm before it was safe to light a fire because one spark could set the whole ship ablaze. The Pilgrims did cook aboard the Mayflower, but probably not very often. The sea had to be very calm before it was safe to light a fire because one spark could set the whole ship ablaze.

CONGRATULATIONS! You are now ready to begin reading Pilgrim Stories by Margaret Pumphrey. You are now ready to begin reading Pilgrim Stories by Margaret Pumphrey.