# The Folklore of American Holidays

Hennig Cohen and Tristram Potter Coffin, editors

Gale, 3^rd^ Ed. Detroit, MI 1999.

Page 449

\"But regionalism began to crumble in the nineteenth century as mass
communications and transportation evolved . . . . An industrial
revolution began, cities expanded, and tens of millions of immigrants
flooded in from Europe. A nationalistic spirit developed and pressure
was put on both regional and immigrant ethnic cultures to adopt the new
national, popular culture. Compulsory education in public schools
insured \[sic\] a measure of common enculturation. The story of the
Pilgrims became an ideal medium for fostering \'Americanism.\'\"

Page 469---From Department Store Promotional Materials

"Macy's huge balloons, a unique trademark for the store, made their
first appearance in 1927. they were designed by master puppeteer, Tony
Sarg."

\[Parades are originated, directed, and operated by Macy's employees.\]

"It all started on Thanksgiving Day in 1920 when Ellis Gimbel gathered
fifteen cars and fifty people and a fireman dressed as Santa Claus and
called it a parade."

## The American Book of Days

Jane M. Hatch

HW Wilson Company, 3^rd^ Ed. NYC 1978

Page 1053

"Thus, since most of the settlers who cam to America probably had known
some form of thanksgiving day in their homelands, it is not surprising
that they transplanted this custom to the New World."

Pages 1054-55

"According to \[William\] Bradford's history *Of Plimoth Plantation*,
the hunters brought back a 'great store of wild Turkies,' and to this
were added lobsters, clams, bass, corn, green vegetables, and dried
fruits."

"The Pilgrims never set a regular Thanksgiving day, although they held
such observances at various times."

"Beginning in 1827, when \[Sarah J. Hale\] was editor of the *Ladies'
Magazine* in Boston, she began to urge the observance of a uniform day
throughout the country to express thanks for the blessings of the year.
She continued her agitation in a desultory manner until the *Lady's
Magazine* was consolidated with *Godey's Lady's Book*. As editor of
*Godey's*, a magazine with a circulation of 150,000 and the largest
periodical of its kind in the country, she wrote editorial after
editorial in support of an annual Thanksgiving Day."

Page 1056

"President Andrew Johnson designated the first Thursday in December as
Thanksgiving in 1865 and President Ulysses S. Grant selected the third
Thursday for the observance in 1869."

"One of the most impressive of many foreign Thanksgiving services took
place in 1942 at Westminster Abbey in London. More than 3,500 American
troops who were stationed in England during World War II, \[assembled\]
into the historic church and participated in services that included the
singing of 'The Star-Spangled Banner' and 'America the Beautiful.' The
special service of thanksgiving was the first service other than a
Church of England ritual to be held at the abbey's altar in nine
centuries."

Page 1057

"Although Thanksgiving Day is generally a peaceful time in Plymouth, the
holiday has been marked by American Indian demonstrations protesting
unjust treatment. The first occurred in 1970, when about 25 Indians
observed a day of mourning. Dressed in native garb, they first gathered
in front of the statue of the Indian chief Massasoit, which overlooks
Plymouth Harbor. Then they buried Plymouth Rock under mounds of sand and
ripped the colors from the replica of the *Mayflower* that is moored in
the harbor."