National Republican., 1873-11-27
THANKSGIVING DAY
HOW. WHEN AND WHERE IToRlGlSArED

Firss Record Of Tbssh-s',ins In New
Eusisse, Orc1sieuea by Frmiac In
tg3i-Msnnsr Of Its Ceiebrstisn-Its
rrssrc-- Toward National Feast psy
In Later yeHrr-Occa,iep for Asunal
Resaiss Of Fam,iie.-A National Beii-
day by General Consent.
"Thsnksalvlng" has been household word In
New England for many generations. Among
the old Puritan families Il IL tho most notable
holiday Of the year. Indeed, Il may be said with
many Of them, TO be the only holiday Of the year.
Fifty years ago. when railways and tccgraphs
were not, aud It was long days stage ride from
Concord, N. H., to Boston, Mass, and tho fare
was i've dollars, tho mass Of New England
fsrmers knew hut little Of what was going on In
outside world, and the fashions and habits Of tho
fathers became those Of children, while ono gen.
Grafton followed another with such close rosem-
blsncc and imitation, that you could scarcely
tell father from son, or mother from daughter,
after an absence OF twenty-five years.
The little child Of ten when you left would be
the exact counterpart OF her mother when you
returned ''check apron" and all. In those ''goed
old times" the sturdy CalviDlsts paid no heed TO
Christmas, because II was an onshot OF Papacy,
thing, for they had about as much respect for
tho one as the other, OF Episcopacy. Their
.mini.tsrs" and "meciluas, made no account Of
country districts OF New England rarely II ever
heard of the Christmas holidays until they be-
ens Tne IN o july os Was Known ,nG as
"lniependence day." and was sometimes cele-
brated by military companies and mado the 90
OF the large towns and manufacturing villages.
The only real, simon-purc universal holiday
hnown and observed BY everybody throushout
Those who had homes TO go TO and parents
10 visit tVok this occasion for q reunion Of
families.
oRigiS of rBE CUSTOM.
The origin OF the day must be attributed 10 the
New England fathers. The nrst recorded ON.
viul observance OF the day occurred In tfe year
1eai In the colony OF Massachusetts, then gov.
by famine and proyldential dcllyerance from
death by starvation. The stock OF nour In the
colony was nearly exhausted, no corn could be
obtained frum the lndlans, and the Inhabitants
were obliged to subsist upon nsh, clans, mus
sels, shrimps, aud other shellnsh until they bc-
ssaser nsss srs' fees een se 10
ireland, the ancestral home Of these colonists,
Tor provisions, some months before, In anticipa-
turned at The time expected, and as the weather
WAS very fofbldling and tempestuous, making
the prospect Of his arrival more and mere prob.
God for their deliveraiioe.
Governor Bradford designated the 27d OF Feb
runry-singular coincidence that II should after
waris have become a national holiday as the an
niversary OF the birth OF the "Father and dcv-
crcr Of his county"-i63i as day OF fasting, hu-
ance frOin famine. Just before the 22d the
vessel loaded with supplies arrived, and the re-
loiciDg was SO great that tho Governor ordered
the y2d TO be observed as day OF thanksgiving
to Almighty God for his great mercy In extend-
ing succor 70 them In their extremity. 1t was
med into aay o. leasing and was ,s s
material whereupon to feast
During the next nfty-four years, from ls3i y
loss, there are recorded twenty-nlne otficisl oh
d
early days special occasions OF prosperity o
calamity were continually ascrtbed 10 the smile
pabliv th,uksetvings ot fasts, and the tone 0
religious sentiment that pcrvaded the colonlt
tn the Infancy Of their settlement led TO the al
nual observance Of them. The fasts were usual
held In the spring, and were accompanied wit
prayers for the blessings OF health, favorab
sown and all the 6oantes % Of heaven Ss % IN ssuna
ance. Thanksgivings were designated in u
autumn after the harvests had been gathers
'fs Ss ,hS ne and Gsst ss
The proclamation called upon all to absta
upon that day from their usual avocations s1
assemble 10 their places OF divine worship 10 =
,urn thanks to Almighty God for all his boun
,sas meIeie., including abundant harvest
and friendship, or TO promote orices OF kindne
and charity, claims the attention Of all good cii
serve the titie Of natIonai customs % our Thank
giving festival may, In this sense, be ranked
ffst.
Fasts and thanksglvings were the subject
resolutions by the Continental Congress, recor
inending the Governors Of the several states
appoint them during the progress OF the Revol
NUn-the former In seasons OF Adversiiy or
preston for supplicating success for our arm
and the latter sfter victories, to be observed
., fsas osr asa SsinF for ns trump
such recommendations of Thanksgiving ds
turing the existence Of the Continental Co
that body Suspended buslpess to take mart in
obseryances OF the day.
In New YORK, where the Episcopal Church "
then dominant, The Governors seldom ma
proclamation for the observance Of the day;
IN 11ss the Book OF Common Prayer used 10 II
SnnrSh n 81 % and Ts.ined IN that year ey ne eonys
Tbursday In November as day 70 be observ
asa day Of Thanksgiving and Praise for /
companying It with services appropriate Tor 1
ncasion. As early as l6It it m recorded th
,ioy. kiefi, then Governor Of New Holland,
aday OF Thanksgiving for victory over the
,lians In Westminster county, but the day new
s,, sscame one % oi general annual observance in 7
the latter half OF the present century. T
Christmas holidays were and still are TO a gre
IN those sections and localities where the d.
settlers were the votaries OF the Establish
Church OF England or Of Rome.
Although Thanksgiving day Is regularly
served as a day Of gatituio and feasting, /
ON English custom OF making . holiday
tMistmus week Tor the assembling under
old iamilv roottree OF all the twigs and branch
Is preseIv we'd with remarkable ndelity. Vac
tons are given TO the pupils In tho public Al
much suspended In the great trading msrts Al
on the Stock Exchange. The confectioneries q
10y saops maTSs,s and groeeries are the Q,
during the Christmas holidays.
THANKSGIVING IN NEW ENGLAND.
In old, staid New England, however, all Il
recreation, gratitude, and jollity was consider
awaste Ot time, and Il had to be condensed II
q na RSt
menced weeks beforehand In the country tow
The INST thing In order was family concls
take place, and sometimes, not unfrequently
fact, this resulted In the choice OF two in Ok
contguityGone for the elders and the other
nthe latter case two feasts had to be p
Pared suitable TO the two companies. Then
..,n were duly informed a,c @ OF the decision, and
nour, (which Is not indigenous TO that sectio
sugar, spices, raisins, molasses, coffee, tea,
critterSis then slaughtered, the Chickens !
turkeys also killed aud dressed which have bs
designated and fattened for this especial oc
sion for months previously. The head q
Sims and other tougher portions Of the ''crlt
aforesaid were nicely washed and boiled u
Jelly nearly, for the taince pies; the apples
pared, and all are chopped to the nnest min
and tempered AID seasoned with boiled c
and sugar or molasses, allspce and cinnam
Ihslns anu citIoh, NpefnhpsD possibly n III
butter or suet, and ABOUT 4 bushe OF this 10
iure Is put away In the arch under the chimi
stack In the cellar TO season against "bak
day." which comes on the Saturday bef
Thanksgiving.
EAKISG DAY.
And what day Is that. The "ohore boy
prepared piles OF the driest OF kindlingr, for
oven must have whitehead on that Occasi
The good old "narm," with sleeves tucked
above elbows, and a broad check apron :
rounding the whole person, nrst mixes the dot
for the rye and injun" loaves OF brown bre
i've or six In number, and In large pans at III
TO last over both Sabbath day and ThalksQ
ing; then she par-boils the beautiful wi
beans I'LL they are fully swollen, and MA
them In the tall earthen pot with a square pi
Of salt pork IN the top, with the Scared +
lust level with the surface of the beans:
whole OF which Is covered with slices OF i
irish potatoes 10 prevent the beans from bu
ing. Now the fire IL lighted In the great bI
oven at the left OF the Kitchen fireplace, and
mince, and the four bucket and rolling pin
spice box, and all the rest OF the paraphefnalI
the pie business are produced, and from MT
7e hundred plates OF various sizes, shapes
~. rial are brought forth from hidden no
ss neTs and filed with substantial pies
.nh W. at least an inch thick. and cl