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Message from our Colony Governor – November 2023
Summer has passed us by and here we are about to join together in celebration and reflection of the voyage of
the Mayflower and its lasting impact on our country. As descendants of the Mayflower passengers, we honor those
men, women, and children who undertook the voyage. Each year we put ourselves in their place and endeavor
to imagine what the true experience of the Mayflower voyage, and the signing of the compact was really like.
We know they had great courage enduring the 66 day voyage. The 102 passengers sailed for more than two months across 3,000 miles of open ocean. There were three pregnant women, and more than a dozen children all squeezed below decks in deplorable conditions, suffering from seasickness, disease, and surviving on meager rations.
The Pilgrims’ joy and relief on catching sight of Cape Cod on the morning of November 9, 1620 was recorded by
William Bradford in Of Plymouth Plantation: “Being thus arrived in a good harbor and brought safe to land, they fell upon their knees and blessed the God of heaven, who had brought them over the vast and furious ocean and delivered
them from all the perils and miseries thereof,” wrote Bradford.
We all know the history of that first harsh winter, the coming spring, and the fall harvest celebration with the Wampanoag that became the First Thanksgiving.
Only 53 men, women, and children survived to attend. Here is an account written by Edward Winslow to a friend in England: “Our harvest being gotten in, our governor sent four men on fowling, that we might after a more special
manner rejoice together, after we had gathered the fruits of our labors. They four in one day killed as much fowl
as, with a little help beside, served the Company almost a week. At which time, amongst other recreations, we
exercised our arms, many of the Indians coming amongst us, and among the rest their greatest king Massasoit, with some 90 men, whom for three days we entertained and feasted, and they went out and killed five deer, which they brought to the plantation and bestowed on our governor, and upon the captain and others. And although it be not always so plentiful as it was at this time with us, yet by the goodness of God, we are so far from want that we often wish you partakers of our plenty.”
Let us now enjoy this bountiful season in the company of our families and friends and continue to be a light to
others.
Pilgrim Blessings
Judith Reale
Governor, San Diego Colony
Winter 2024 Colony Meeting
Our first meeting in 2024 will be in February. Watch for news and information via email and in our Winter issue of the Pilgrim News. Time and date are TBD, but as always there will be an interesting and fun presentation.
Passed Colony Events of Significance
“400-Year Anniversary” of the Mayflower Pilgrim’s 1st Fall Harvest Feast occurred Nov of 2021
The San Diego Mayflower Colony in the State of California celebrated the 1620 Pilgrim’s “Voyage of Hope” and “First Harvest” celebrations in San Diego’s beautiful Balboa Park. The event was similar to our 2018 “Plimoth Colony-WEST” event which was held in association with the House of England. Please watch for updates in the coming years as we look to continue this event. Below you can read about our 2018 event attended by more than 500 fellow San Diegans.
San Diego Colony’s Balboa Park Event on November 11th, 2018
The San Diego Mayflower Colony held our first 400th anniversary event on Compact Day, November 11, 2018. It was called “Plimoth Plantation West—In Anticipation.” The event was held at the world famous Balboa Park House of International Relations and was co-hosted by the House of England. The International Cottages were built in 1935 for the California Pacific International Exposition. Our event was held in the central lawn area, near the House of England, from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. An estimated 500 visitors passed through our exhibits and spoke with our Colony Members/Enactors, all of whom were wearing 15th-16th Century clothing.
Our tour was self guided and visitors were encouraged to explore the exhibits at your own pace. At stopping points, displays were presented to learn more about these interesting adventurers who bravely traveled here almost 400 years ago! Colony Members told about what it was like to be alone and on the edge of a continent new to them. Plimoth Plantation WEST–2018 was focused on outreach and education. There were multiple interactive displays showing aspects of what was happening two years before the famous voyage and the life and demographics of the travelers. In addition, roving Enactor/Colony Members represented specific Mayflower passengers and told their personal stories to guests. We’d love to do this again, perhaps in the Fall of 2021, so watch for news updates.