
Mayflower Day
American history would not be the same without the arrival in America of Pilgrims from England. They probably didn’t know what lay ahead of them when they set sail on Mayflower towards the New World. And even less did they realize the consequences of their actions on the future.
It’s time for Mayflower Day to be celebrated!
Mayflower Day, a celebration to honor the Mayflower Ship, which was one of the first vessels to arrive in New World in what is now the United States, is Mayflower Day
The crew of the Mayflower spent almost ten weeks at sea after it left Plymouth, England on September 16, 1620. The Mayflower docked in Massachusetts after 66 days. It was originally intended to land in Virginia, but the captain wanted it to arrive in Massachusetts. Some storms and navigational mistakes by the crew caused the ship to veer off-course.
The Mayflower was the vessel that brought the Puritan or Pilgrim settlers to America, first to Cape Cod and then to Plymouth Rock in Massachusetts. There were 30 crew members on board, and 102 passengers. Three of these were pregnant women. They disembarked at the number of 103 because one of the babies was born at sea just before arrival.
The Pilgrims had no suitable places to live when they moved to their new home. They lived on the ship for several months, rowing back to the land to build homes, but sleeping on board at night.
The Mayflower Compact was signed by the passengers before they even landed on the ship. It was an agreement regarding the new rules. This agreement was signed one month before they docked on November 21, 1620.
Mayflower Day was established to celebrate and remember the historic event that brought about the first European community to settle in the New World, now the United States of America.
Mayflower Day is a wonderful day to remember families with children, as well as schools that are learning about American history. These are some ideas to celebrate the occasion:
Mayflower Day is a great day to host a party or event for people who love American history. Invite your guests to dress up in the role of pilgrims or as the Mayflower’s original settlers. Use a variety New World-themed posters and decorations to make the room feel festive.
You might want to do some research before guests go so they can play the same games that were played on the ship, or in their New World adventures. One activity might be to have participants build their own ships using various materials like toothpicks, Popsicle sticks and clay.
A number of museums in the New England region of the US have exhibits and displays that feature information about the Mayflower. Mayflower Day is a great time to visit a museum to learn more about the lives and travels of Pilgrims during that period. These museums are worth a visit:
Many Americans might wonder if their ancestors may have been part of the Mayflower crew or ship. The Mayflower Society is an organisation that helps people trace their genealogy to find out if they have a connection with the original voyage or Pilgrims.
Julia Child, Noah Webster and Katherine Hepburn are just a few of the well-known Mayflower descendants. The Mayflower Society website provides more information about the fascinating and unique people who descend from these seafaring settlers.