As they weaved their way to the City Centre, the sculptures illuminated the city. Schools and community groups marked Thanksgiving with structures they had made in a series of workshops: see our blog. Also, the parade was accompanied by two drumming bands, adding to the excitement.
Illuminate Festival Plymouth 2016
And this year’s festival was held on November 24 2016 to commemorate Thanksgiving, as part of preparations for the Mayflower 400 celebrations. Mayflower 400 is a celebration that culminates in 2020. 2020 is the 400 year anniversary of the Plymouth pilgrims sailing on the Mayflower ship and landing some months later in America. After establishing a community, the pilgrims shared a meal. This meal was shared with some of the local Wampanoag tribe too. As a result, it has now become a tradition in the U.S.A. And across the Atlantic, a similar Illuminate event happened in Boston.
This year, Illuminate focused on a Wampanoag Native American story. The Wampanoag were the tribe that supported the pilgrims on their arrival in the New World. Their lands included Plymouth, New England where the Mayflower landed. Without their support, it is unlikely the pilgrims would have survived to gather their first harvest. And this is what Thanksgiving is all about.
Significantly, the lights at the heart of Illuminate capture the sentiment of one of the pilgrims, William Bradford, who became Governor of Plymouth Plantation:
“Just as one small candle may light a thousand, so the light here kindled hath shone unto many.”
