The Old Colony Club presents its Annual Forefathers Day Celebration on December 23, 2019. Participants will meet at the Old Colony Club, 25 Court Street in Plymouth at 6:00AM, and then march down North Street to the top of Cole’s Hill, returning to the Club by way of Leyden and Court Street. During the event, a Proclamation will be read in honor of the Pilgrim Forefathers followed by 3 rounds of cannon fire. The celebration will be followed by a breakfast and raising of the flag.
About Forefathers Day: On December 22, 1956, an early morning celebration was reinstituted, with marching in top hats, band music, and the firing of a cannon. Following the march, Old Colony Club members enjoyed a full breakfast and closed the morning’s events with the raising of our country’s flag. These ceremonies were in memory of the Club’s first celebration in 1769. The annual meeting and commemorative dinner followed in the evening. This tradition has continued each Forefather’s Day since.
The Old Colony Club presents its Annual Forefathers Day Celebration on December 23, 2019. Participants will meet at the Old Colony Club, 25 Court Street in Plymouth at 6:00AM, and then march down North Street to the top of Cole’s Hill, returning to the Club by way of Leyden and Court Street. During the event, a Proclamation will be read in honor of the Pilgrim Forefathers followed by 3 rounds of cannon fire. The celebration will be followed by a breakfast and raising of the flag.
About Forefathers Day: On December 22, 1956, an early morning celebration was reinstituted, with marching in top hats, band music, and the firing of a cannon. Following the march, Old Colony Club members enjoyed a full breakfast and closed the morning’s events with the raising of our country’s flag. These ceremonies were in memory of the Club’s first celebration in 1769. The annual meeting and commemorative dinner followed in the evening. This tradition has continued each Forefather’s Day since.
The Pilgrim Progress was instituted by the Town of Plymouth in 1921 in honor of its Pilgrim founders. The march takes place the first four Fridays in August and also is an integral part of the Town’s celebration of Thanksgiving Day.
Each marcher represents one of the 51 survivors of the first harsh winter of 1620-21.
The line of march proceeds past Plymouth Rock and up the First Street (Leyden Street today) to the top of Burial Hill where a short Pilgrim worship service is observed on the site of the original fort/meetinghouse. The passages read by Elder Brewster are usually from Governor Bradford’s “History” or other Pilgrim sources.
Photo courtesy of Wicked Local Plymouth.
