Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1892-11-25
THE FIRST OF TWO FESTIVALS.

THE FIRST OF TWO FESTIVALS. |
The Thanksgiving festival comes TO us
from the Pilgrims and Puritans who settled
New England. The Christmas festival was
brought by the cavalier churchmen who
settled in the South. For generations the
territorial demarkation of the two festivals
was as distinct as that Of the population of
the two sections.
Thanksgiving was utterly unknown in
the South except as something TO be rigdly
excluded as Yankee institution. The OBJ
servance of Christmas was regarded by the
descendants Of the New England Purltans
as a remnant of popery, and therefore to be
sternly frowned upon.
AS the country became more settled the
lines separating the territory Of the two fes
rivals grew indistinct towards the west and
there was a joint occupation. The New
Highlander pushing westward carried the
Thanksgiving festival with him as well as
the church and the school. The descend
ants OF the cavaliers Of Virginia and Mary
land, who followed the course OF empire
westward on lower parallel, took with
them the Christmas traditions and customs.
These were reinforced by the stream of
immigration from European lands where
Christmas was held in repute, each nation
atty bringing its peculiarites TO modify the
Christmas idea. To the feasting and merry
making of the English Christmas were
added the Kris Kingle or Santa Claus of
Germany with the Christmas tree, and the
exchange of holiday tokens Of remembrance
transferred from the New Years day of
France. Side by side, but not comminging,
the Two festivals pushed their way across the
continent and into each others formerly
exclusive territory and at last coalesced, 80
that Thanksgiving and Christmas are now
held 10 equal honor In almost, II not quite,
the whole land.
Alike in one respect in the social feature
of their earlier observance in this country
there was another marked difference in the
method and spirit Of the two festivals
Thanksgiving was essentially Democratic
at the beginning and became exclusively
flmiy affair as the feeble settlement grew
to the stronger colony and the one populous
state. The earlier Thanksgiving were SER
vices of thankfulness TO God for relief from
threatened starvation, and for bounteous
harvests. The joyful ieasting followed en-
forced fasting and all shared alike in relief
Afterwards the day became one Of family re-
union around the well spread table, and
among people bred to simple wants aud
sturdy independence there was little need
for thought of others whose tables might be
bare. Christmas as 1t was brought TO the
American shores by the English cavaliers
had more o! an sristocratic quality and car
rIed with il the idea Of master aud servants,
of rich employers and poor dependents, of
the lord of the manor throwing open his
hospitable hall TO less fortunate neighbors
and giving "Christmas doles" of money or
food or useful articles TO the surrounding
poor that they might too have "Merry Christ
mas" The sons and daughters of New
England FASTENED home from all directions
To eat their Thanksgiving dinner with their
parents under the old root. The Virginian
and Marylander called in his friends TO join
them in the feast and gave Christmas gifts"
to their dependents and poorer neighbors,
as their ancestors had done in "Merrie Eng
land"
The Thanksgiving and Christmas of to-
day have borrowed each of the other until
there is but one marked distinction between
them, the children's Santa Clause and gift.
laden tree peculiar TO Christmas time. Both
have become occasions for family reunions,
glad cheer and innocent merry making
Thanksgiving has acquired the Christmas
spirit Of looking alter those outside the family
and enabling them TO share in the general
enjoyment That was not held 10 be a true
Christmas feast which was not shared in
some way by those poor in the worlds goods
as well as by the well.to do. The Thanks.
giving in which no provision is made for
those who have little of their own TO evoke
a feeling OF thankfulness is not inspired by
the right thanksgiving spirit
"Be merciful after thy power II thou
hast much, give plenteously, II thou hast
little, do thy diligence gladly TO give Of that
little, for so gatherest thou thyself good
reward in the day Of necessity"