Marietta daily leader. (Marietta, Ohio) 1895-1906, 1900-11-29
THANKSGIVING,

Thanksgiving is an older holiday
than one might suppose. 1t was first
celebrated by the Egyptians, who were
very religious race. Soon after the
harvests were gathered, the husband
men observed "a day Of feasting. 1t was
not altogether day of festivities, but
also of religious worship. Iris, the
Holy Mother, protected the harvests,
and on the altar erected to her were
laid costly and precious offerings.
The Jews celebrated Thanksgiving
Day over three thousand years ago.
Their great feast was called the feast
of the tabernacles," and continued for
eight successive days, at which all of
the people were supposed to feast and
make merry. Every hou-e had its SER
vices and banquets, and millions of
people came to Jerusalem, where they
lived in booths constructed of olive,
pine and palm branches, and the SER
vices consisted of magnificent rituals,
melodious chorus, and picturesque fes-
tivities." 1t was at one of these feasts
that our Saviour was found teaching
the wise men in the temple.
| The feast of the Greeks was in honor
of Demeter, the goddess Of the harvest.
The fast of the Romans was in honor
of the same goddess, hut she was
known as Ceres to them. They
marched in great professions to the
fields, where they engaged in sports,
such as running, wrestling and boxing,
In England the day Of feasting was
called the Harvest Home" 1t was
also held at the close of the ingather-
green, feasts of archery and wrestling
matches were performed, and at the
close a great feast was given in some
large field, where an OK was generally
roasted.
We now come to the first Thanksgiv-
ing in our own country. The Pilgrim
Fathers landed on the coast of Massa-
chusetts in 1920. They were without
the means of raising crops at once as it
was nearing winter, and their supply
of provisions was small. After ten
months of suffering, they gathered
their first harvest, which consisted Of
about twenty acres of corn, and six
acres of barley and peas. They
thanked God for this and prepared
great feast. Waterfowl, wild turkey
and venison were brought in by hunt
ers, and Massasait and ninety Indian
warriors were invited. The feast was
prepared on long tables prepared for
that purpose in grove near the viii
lage. The Indians sat at separate
table and although they did not use
the best of manners, they were treated
very nice by the maidens who waited
upon them. After the feast was over
the old men and women went to the
church for worship, while the young
men and Indians staid in the park to
engage in games and sports
A drought came the next year, and
for ten hours the people prayed for
rain. Toward night breeze sprang
up, bringing rain, and the rain saved
The settlers from starvation. To COM
this Governor Bradford Or
1ered day of Thanksgiving to be OBJ
In 1889 President Washington is
sued the first Thanksgiving proclama-
ton ever issued by ruler The last
in November was set apart
to be devoted to the service of Cod |
In 1895 the second proclamation made
its appearance, and this day was OBJ
served as a general Thanksgiving. 1t
was made a National Thanksgiving by
President Lincoln by proclamation.
Thanksgiving is now looked forward
to as day of festivities and religious
by all the people of the Unit
ed States. And yet, after all, the best
is Thanksgiving.