Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1895-11-27
the ORIGIN or THANKSGIVING DAY.

Thanksgiving is legal holiday in the
United States, where it is generally OBJ
served by the people as day of rejoic-
ing and thankfulness to God for the
blessings of the year. The custom is re-
puted to be of great antiquity, having
been borrowed as some declare from the
Mosaic law. This, however, is doubtful,
Notwithstanding that the Hebrews were
accustomed to celebrate plenteous har-
vests and freedom from disease by pub
lie festivities and acknowledgements.
According to English authorities the
custom of celebrating national and local
festivities became established in Great
Britain at the earliest periods. The es-
cape of Leyden was made the occasion
for praise services, and the discovery of
the Guy Fawkes plot was observed by
Thanksgiving services in England up to
within comparatively recent period. 1t
has even been claimed by some That the
custom in the United States was I'M
ported from Holland, where the Harvest
Home" festival is annually observed.
But, in spite of these historical facts,
we contend that the effort to rob the
United States of the credit of having
originated the noble and citing holiday
We will observe as nation tomorrow is
closely akin to the absurd error that led to
the calling of the magnificent and savory
bird that usually graces Thanksgiving
dinner tables Turkey instead of an Amer
lean or Columbian. The Thanksgiving
we know is as strictly an American inst
tuition, as truly indigenous to American
soil, as the tomato, the potato, the Indian
corn plant, the fragrant tobacco plant
or the turkey ITSELF.
Our Thanksgiving day unquestionably
originated with the early settlers of New
England, often called the "Pilgrim Faith
ers" During the colonial days in that
section, this festival was of annual occur
renee, and during the revolutionary war
congress repeatedly recommended the
setting apart of day to be devoted ex-
clusively to thanksgiving and prayer. At
the close of the conflict with the smother
country" upon the adoption of the con.
stltution and at other periods in the
early history of the nation, national
thanksgivings were recommended and
celebrated.
From New England the custom gradu-
ally extended to the middle, western and
southern states, but prior to the civil
war proclamations of Thanksgiving were
issued by the governors of the several
states. Probably the honor of first max
ing it national custom is due to Abraham
Lincoln, who, during the dark and
troublous days of civil strife, appoint
cd days of thanksgiving, fasting and
prayer, and the precedent thus established
has been adopted by succeeding presi-
dents since the close of hostilities, the
executives of the several states and terri
tories usually issuing proclamations
similar to that of the chief magistrate.
Appropriately following the example
of the early New England governors, who
always selected that day, Thursday has
come to be universally recognized as
Thanksgiving day throughout the coun-
try, and naturally November, when the
fruits of the earth are stored away for
the winter and the turkey has reached his
highest state of perfection, has been set
apart as Thanksgiving month.