Message from First Colony Governor, Helen Rancan
I love sports of all types. It doesn’t matter if I am participating or spectating, although I would prefer to be a in the thick of the action, the thrill of the competition, from pick-up games of street ball to something more formal that would require complexity to the level of the Marquess of Queensbury Rules, I am so in because I see it more than competition, I see games and sports as community building and a sense of belonging.
I chose to spend too much time this past February, watching the Winter Olympics. I love the Olympics, summer and winter, equally. I cheer for Team USA without hesitation, but I also cheer for those who exemplify ae level of near physical perfection. Those performances fifty years ago by Nadia Comaneci were the equivalent of discovering a long-lost painting by a Dutch Master in front of the entire viewing world.
I know I would not have gotten along with William Bradford on two points: Christmas and sports.
Christmas Day, 1621, was not a day for playing street games. As Gov. William Bradford wrote in his journal (referring to himself as the Gov) many years later:
“One the day called Christmas day, the Gov called them out to work, (as was used,) but the most of this new-company excused themselves and said it went against their consciences to work on that day. So the Gov told them that if they made it matter of conscience, he would spare them till they were better informed.
So he led-away the rest and left them; but when they came home at noon from their work, he found them in the street at play, openly; some pitching the barr and some at stoole-ball, and such like sports.
So he went to them, and took away their implements, and told them that was against his conscience, that they should play and others work. If they made the keeping of it matter of devotion, let them keep their houses, but there should be no gaming or revelling in the streets.”
I chose to spend too much time this past February, watching the Winter Olympics. I love the Olympics, summer and winter, equally. I cheer for Team USA without hesitation, but I also cheer for those who exemplify ae level of near physical perfection. Those performances fifty years ago by Nadia Comaneci were the equivalent of discovering a long-lost painting by a Dutch Master in front of the entire viewing world.
I know I would not have gotten along with William Bradford on two points: Christmas and sports.
Christmas Day, 1621, was not a day for playing street games. As Gov. William Bradford wrote in his journal (referring to himself as the Gov) many years later:
“One the day called Christmas day, the Gov called them out to work, (as was used,) but the most of this new-company excused themselves and said it went against their consciences to work on that day. So the Gov told them that if they made it matter of conscience, he would spare them till they were better informed.
So he led-away the rest and left them; but when they came home at noon from their work, he found them in the street at play, openly; some pitching the barr and some at stoole-ball, and such like sports.
So he went to them, and took away their implements, and told them that was against his conscience, that they should play and others work. If they made the keeping of it matter of devotion, let them keep their houses, but there should be no gaming or revelling in the streets.”
“The Puritan Governor interrupting the Christmas Sports” by Howard Pyle (1883).
There is no known account of any playing on Christmas Day for the next twenty years and celebrating Christmas itself was outlawed between 1659 and 1681.
Now, we have all sorts of games and sports played every day of the year (maybe we should not have sports televised on December 25th, a topic for another essay), but I agree with what Mike Tirico said when he wrapped up the NBC broadcast of the 2026 Winter Olympics “Our country loves sports and it brings us together unlike anything else”… it brings us a sense of belonging and community. We are members, by association, of our two gold-winning hockey teams, as we are with all our American athletes.
First Colony Governor
Helen Rancan
Spring 2026
Now, we have all sorts of games and sports played every day of the year (maybe we should not have sports televised on December 25th, a topic for another essay), but I agree with what Mike Tirico said when he wrapped up the NBC broadcast of the 2026 Winter Olympics “Our country loves sports and it brings us together unlike anything else”… it brings us a sense of belonging and community. We are members, by association, of our two gold-winning hockey teams, as we are with all our American athletes.
First Colony Governor
Helen Rancan
Spring 2026
Meetings
While membership is open to all members of our Society, the First Colony generally serves the central portion of our state. The First Colony meets twice a year. Please see the Meetings & News page for upcoming dates.
First Colony 50th Anniversary Commemorative Coin
One side of this beautiful coin features the official seal of the NJ Mayflower Member Society and the other side the NJ state symbols of the Eastern Goldfinch sitting on a branch among violets and red oak leaves.
$10 for First Colony members plus $5 shipping per order.
$15 for all others plus $5 shipping per order.
Large quantities by arrangement.
For more information and ordering details, please contact Steve at [email protected].
$15 for all others plus $5 shipping per order.
Large quantities by arrangement.
For more information and ordering details, please contact Steve at [email protected].