The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1895-11-29
rHs FIRST rHAxksarv1sa.

The Eaelfest Observation in AmeFi.
ea-The Puritan THANKSGIVING.
There IL little doubt that the New
England Thanksgiving day, inaugural
cd by the Pilgrim Fathers, was adopt
ed by them with special reference to
the Jewish feast of Tabernacles. Some
have supposed that It may have had
some reference, In origin, to the Eng
fish feast Of the harvest home, with
which the early settlers Of New Eng
land were all familiar, but this is not
probable. Tie Puritans abominated all
secular feasts, and the harvest home,
with its drinking and rl0tOus merry
making, was hardly less detestable to
them than the mummers and the was
sail bowl Of Christmas. Besides 1t
was the especial desire of those
worthy folk to model their govern
ment In. all its particulars on the
Scripture code, and, furthermore, the
reasons on which the Hebrew feast
was enjoined, that the people might
be kept in mind of an especial Provi-
dence ever watching over them,
seemed perfectly applicable to their
case.
The observance of special occasions
with religious services and thanks
giving was not unusual In Europe
even before the time Of the Pilgrims.
Such q day was observed in Leyden,
Holland, Oct. 3. 1875, on the first an
niversary Of the dellverence Of that
city from siege. When the Spanish
Armada had been defeated Queen
Elizabeth ordered day Of praise and
Thanksgiving. Again when the gun
powder plot was discovered, in 1905,
q public Thanksgiving was ordered,
EBhlfR Bal lSot ots5 Ess ss regularly observed;
generated into a mere occasion for
schoolboy frolics.
However, the first Thanksgiving
dinner in New England was not re-
ligious In it's character. It was in the
autumn of 1921, ten months after the
peerless little band of pioneers had
landed on the shores Of Plymouth bay.
There had been much sickness In the
colony during the first few months.
and many deaths. 'sThe record Of
misery" says Bancroft, twas kept by
the graves OF tue governor and half
Of the company" Yet the others did
not lose heart. When the Maynower
returned to England In April not one
Of the colonists went back with her,
and four months later q number Of
new emigrants arrived. This much
encouraged the others, though their
small harvest, which consisted Of
.'twenty acres of Indian corn. and six
acres Of very poor barley and peas"
did not promise rich living for the
band. But, though bread was scanty,
meat was abundant, and there was NO
longer fear Of suffering. When the
harvest had been housed Gov. Brad.
ford sent out four men on fowling
expedition, ''that they might have
more dainty and abundant meat than
ordinary, and after special manner
| be able to rejoice together"
There 10 no mention made OF spe.
cial religious services. but It II i'm.
possible to imagine that these were
psSlected. When the young men re-
turned laden with spoil, Aassasoit
visited the colony with ninety Of bis
braves and was invited to share the
harvest feast. After which, to show
thelr. appreciation OF the hospitality,
tie IhdlanB brought to the col0nists q
number Of deer. The harvest Of 1922
was, not abundant, and during the
winter that followed there was q
scantiness Of food. The summer Of
1028 was hot and dry, and there WAS
danger that all the crops would be
destroyed by dronth. In July . day
Ct 01Stlng and pEAyoe Vao appointed.