Forefathers’ Day in Plymouth Date in the current year: December 22, 2024

The English made the first attempts to found settlements in North America in the late 16th century, but these attempts weren’t particularly successful. Among the first English colonies in the New World was the infamous Roanoke Colony that is also known as the Lost Colony due to the unexplained disappearance of its entire population. It is the Plymouth Colony that was one of the first successful settlements to be founded by the English.

The Plymouth Colony was founded by English Puritans, who embarked on the Mayflower in September 1620. After a two-month journey, the ship dropped anchor at Cape Cod, in what is now Provincetown Harbor. Since they didn’t have a patent to settle in this area, the colonists explored the area and decided to move to the Plymouth Harbor. The first landing party arrived at the site of Plymouth on December 21, 1620.

The tradition to celebrate Forefathers’ Day dates back to 1769. Interestingly, the date of the holiday is erroneous. When the date of the landing was adjusted from the Julian to the Gregorian calendar, it was erroneously established on December 22 instead of December 21. When the error was discovered, people had already become used to the date, so it was decided not to move the commemoration. However, when December 22 falls on a Sunday, Forefathers’ Day is celebrated on the following Monday, December 23.

The celebration is organized by the Old Colony Club. Founded in 1769, it is one of the oldest gentlemen’s clubs in the United States. The celebration begins early in the morning. Members of the club march to the top of Cole’s Hill (a landmark located across the street from Plymouth Rock), read a proclamation honoring the Pilgrim Fathers and fire the club’s cannon.

Another holiday tradition is a dinner that includes succotash. Succotash is a dish consisting of sweet corn and beans. Other common ingredients are some kind of meat (salt pork or corned beef) and vegetables (okra, tomatoes, sweet peppers, turnips, potatoes). Succotash is associated with Thanksgiving and Forefathers’ Day because it is believed to have been served at the first Thanksgiving dinner shared by the colonists and Indians.

A similar dinner is organized by the General Society of Mayflower Descendants, commonly known as the Mayflower Society. There used to be some good-hearted dispute between the two organizations, but now their celebrations occur on separate days so that members of both societies can attend both celebrations.