New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-11-27
HARVEST THANKSGIVING.
HOW THE FESTIVAL WAS OBSERVED IN
OTHER DAYS-WRITERS DIFFER
AS To ITS ORIGIN.

AS TO ITS ORIGIN.
Different peoples have different seasons for har-
vest Thanksgiving. When the Jews inhabited Pal
estine the festival of Pentecost embraced thanks
giving for a bountiful harvest, but the wheat
is not gathered in Northern Europe at the time Of
Penecost flowers take the place Of the first fruits
in the synagogues The Druids had their harvest
festival November I, the Chinese and japanese
have theirs at the years close. while in America
the last Thursday in November is everywhere OBJ
served as Thanksgiving Day for the blessings OF
the year in general, and the bounties of the har-
vest in particular
Thanksgiving Day is legacy of the Puritans
who abolished Christmas out Of their hatred OF
the preacy.
Among the heather the masters Of the families,
when they had got in their harvest. were wont to
feast with their servants who had labored for
them in filling the ground. In exact conformity
with this practice, 1t is common among Christians
of countries when the fruits of the earth are
gathered in in their proper repositories,
provide a plentiful supper for the harvest men
and the servants of the family At this enter
tainment all are, in the modern revolutionary idea
of the word, equal There is no distinction OF per
sons; the master and servants sit at the same taoe
converse freely together, and spend the remainder
! of the night in dancing and singing on terms OF
easy familiarity.
There are records of royalty in many countries
and all down the centuries who have done likewise
The many Thanksgiving traditions and stories OF
New-England customs and life in the "Old South
full of interest.
Some antquarians believe the various Thanks
giving celebrations all traceable to Jewish
origin. II IS said that the heather followed the
example of the Jews in Offering up their first
fruits to their gods at the end of the harvest At
all events this festival is undoubtedly of the most
remote antiquity.
An old English author. writing IN 1861 about the
months of the year. thus glances at the customs
of Harvest Home:
THE Furmenty Pot welcomes home the Har-
vest Cart, and the Garland of Flowers crowns the
Captain of the Reapers; the battle of the field is
stoutIy fought The pipe and the taber are
busily a-work. and the lad and lass VIII
have no lead on their heels. o. tbs the merry
time wherein neighbOrs will make good cheer ana
God is goried in His blessings on the earth.
And another writer in describing "A Journey into
England in 1898. says
'As we were returning to our inn, we happened
to meet some country people celebrating their Har-
vest Home; their last load Of corn they crown
with flowers, having besides an image Tcniy
dressed, by which, perhaps. they would slgHlIy
Ceres; this they keep moving about, Whlie Hel
and women, and maid servants, riding through
the streets in the cart, shout loud as they can
till they arrive at the barn. =, ,--
Eugene Aram in his essay the Nell supper
and Shooting the Churn, takes these IeaSts 10 De
the relics Of pagan ceremonies or of Judaism, ana
to be of higher antiquity than IS generally appFe-
hended indeed. to be old as the sense OF Joy
for the benefit OF plentiful harvests and or human
gratitude the Creator for his munihcence 70