The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1890-11-20
THANKSGIVING.


THANKSGIVING.
Something of the Origin and History O.,
the Day.
OF all our National holidays, we have
only one that is unique. Christmas and
New Years we celebrate in common
with the bulk of Christendom; Wash
ingtons birthday finds its counterpart
in many countries, AMI We are not the
only nation, by long odds. tn at cele-
brates an independence day. But, so
far as we know, no nation has day set
apart for the giving of thanks for the
mercies and blessings received from the
Giver of all good.
In other countries there are Thanks
giving days, but they arc celebrated at
irreg ular intervals and owe their origin
to peculiar causes.
Some years ago, England had
Thanksgiving day over the recovery of
the Prince of Wales from severe i'll
ness. and similar thanksgivings have
been held in all European countries.
In Russia, when the Gar escapes one Of
the numerous attacks on his life,
Thanksgiving day is appointed to give
thanks; and in Oriental countries it is
usual to appoint days of thanksgiving
to celebrate such weighty events as the
coming of age of the rulers eldest son,
the marriage of his daughter, the birth
of an heir, and so forth. But these
days have nothing in common with our
Thanksgiving day.
The first Thanksgiving day of which
we have any record was held in
Plymouth Colony when Governor Brad
ford was at the head of affairs.
In the autumn Of 1621-the exact date
is uncertain-the Governor sent out
four men to gather game, so that the
whole colony might "rejoice together"
after they had garnered the fruit of
their labors. The following year I622),
at the same season, after the abundant
harvest was collected, the colonists as
sembled, and, according to an old chron-
icle, 'solemnized day of thanksgiving
unto the Lord"
At this celebration, according to ira
dition, Massasoit and his court attended
and Toasted with the whites.
Then Thanksgiving day seems to
have been forgotten until 1881, when it
was revived under peculiar circum-
stances The harvest of the previous
year had been very poor, and during the
winter provisions of all kinds were so
scarce that the colony was in actual
danger of starvation. The 22d of Feb
ruary was appointed to be observed as
fast day, but, before that day came, a
vessel arrived from Europe, laden with
provisions. Governor Bradford was
quick to take advantage of the changed
state OF affairs, and issued a proclama-
ton changing the day of fact to one of
feasting. This was the first Thanksgiv-
ing day by regular proclamation.
New Netherland (afterward New
York; observed Thanksgiving day &C.
casionally, and Governor Kieft pro-
claimed public thanksgiving to be
held in February, 1914, on account of a
victory over the Indians; and again in
1915, because Of the conclusion of peace
There were occasional thanksgiving
in tho several colonies for the next
hundred years, but no general observ-
ance until the time Of the Revolution
In those gloomy days, when one might
suppose that the struggling colonies had
little to be thankful for, the Continental
Congress issued an annual Thanksgiv-
ing proclamation, from ITS to 1882, in
elusive.
But there was no fixed date, varying
from as early as April 6 to as late as
December II. The later date occurred in
1776, when there were two Thanksgiv-
ing days; the first being on May 16
Washington, as General of the army,
issued proclamation for Thanksgiving
by the Continental army on Decembe
10, 1177, and again at Valley Forge, May
Z, ITS; and during his Presidential
term he appointed two Thanksgiving
days-Novembe Der S6, 1889. and February
10, 1895.
This custom was followed by sue
cessive Presidents, from time to time,
but President Lincoln was the frat
President to issue Thanksgiving pros
lamation on two consecutive years.
Gradually the State executives fell
into line, so that the custom is now GEN
eral Ia all parts Of the Republic, and
Thanksgiving day is now legal holt
day:
The observance OF Thanksgiving, at
first u day of rejoicing, gradually be.
came religious ceremony. especially
during the Revolutio nary period. Then,
with loore prosperous times, it devel.
oped into day of rejoicing and family
reuniSns, and in New England almost
entirely supplanted Christmas.
At the present day it is a minor
Chris smas, wherein religious observ-
ances are combined with sports and
jollity.
The giving of presents has never pre-
vailed on Thanksgiving day, but it is
none the less day Of pleasant reunions
and family gatherings. We have not
all harvests to be thankful for, but we
all participate in the general prosperity
of the country. Indeed, it is doubtful
If there is one person, young or old, who
can look back twelvemonth and not
see many events to be thankful for.
Asa Nation we have very few. HOLIDAYS
and we can not afford to ignore those
we have. So to young and old va say
keep Thanksgiving day with all your
might, return thanks for the blessings
of the past and pray for the blessings
yet to come.-W. 3. Holden, In Golden
Days