Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1878-12-05
ORIGIN OF .FHANKsGIVING.'
How 1t Was Born in New Eng.
gland.
From the Boston Herald.

Thanksgiving d iys, or thank s 5ivinI
occasions, we're no doubt of very early
origin, aud it is more than probable
that the Jewish Passover, Pentec0st O
Whitsunday WAS the origin of II "feas
OF thanksgiving for the harvest,
which is -aId to have Commenced im
mediately after the Passover. Il fer
ehce is also made to Thanksgiving oc
lcasiOnS in various countries. It's orig
i1 in this country. if in fact it was
not brought over by the Pilgrims, wa:
not IN .nk5giSing day, but a thanks
giving OCCASION. The present custom
Of a thankIgiving,S State or National, we
imaginn, is strictly an American in
|stitution, aui is generally so regarded,
and has grown out of the custom oil
thanksgiving occasions. As early is
1886, and possibly at an earlier day, the
following order WAS passed by the
Court:
"N EW PLYMOUTH, Nov. Is, 1886
Where's at His Ma'ties Court, held
the l-h AMI 9TH pf O3tob'r in the 18th
yeare of the reigne of our SOW. Lord
Charles by the grace of Col King of
Eng sc II. ifr. Il Ifl. Defender of the
ffaith," g., it W u ''orderei that it be
in the power OF the Governor d A55t's
to commIn1 solemn daies of humilia-
con by fasting, &c, and also tor thanks
giving as occ4,ion shall be offered"
Ona Of these occasions arose during
the CrOm wellian wars in England and
uuder date of NJ irch 9, 1861 2, "the
court haue desired that publicke day
of Thanksgiving throughout the colo
nies may b. observed therein to give
thanks IL GJi for the great victories
graunted to the army in behalfe of the
Parliament and Commonwealth OF
England"
In 1868, October q, 1.-THE court take
ing notice Of the goodness of G ID to vs.
in the continuance Of our civil and re-
ligiou3 liberties, the general health
that wee haue enjoyed, and that it
bath pleased God in some comfortable
measure to bless Us in the fruites of the
earth, doe conceiue that these and 9TH
er favors call upon US for returns of
thankiulnes3 TO the Lord, De-, propose
that the 18th day OF November be kept
as solemne day of thanksgiving with
respect to his goodness in the p'ticu-
lares sshouemensioned, and what par
ticulare places and psOns may propose
to themselves aS causes of thankful
ness"
This, probably, was intended as the
regular Thanksgiving Day for the
year, which appears to have been es-
tablished. In 1880 the General Court,
in somewhat similar terms, "dOe pro.
pound the twentieth day of October
next ensueing to be celebrated as SOL
,,,,,,o I,x, ,>f fha l. S0iy yoipn h,, oil fho
in this colonie," etc. In
1886 Thanksgiving was on the Sd of
and in 1859 on the 9th oil
June, without any assigned reason.
The next year it was in November, as
s now the custom. In 1882 it was en-
Icted "that none shall presume to at
end servile worke or labor, or attend
my sports, on such days as are or
hal be appointed by the court for hu-
niliation by fasting and prayer or for
,ublic Thanksgiving, on penalty of
i've shillings."
Thanksgiving Days aud occasions
ave been continued annually and 9th:
rwise, and has for many years been
ruly said of New England Thanks
wings that families widely scattered
leet at the beautiful Thanksgiving
inner OF roast turkeys, plum pud-
ings and mince and pumpkin pies.
he evenings are devoted to the
oung people to rustic games and
The modern element in our Thanks.
wing Days is to be found in the gen.
.ous ways and means now provided, l
9th public and private, for supplying l
le worthy poor with the means of
eeping and enjoying the day in the y
anner of their neighbors, who have,
their worldly prosperity, no such !,
eater reason for gratitude and thank T.
lness. v