The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1910-11-22
THE ORIGIN OF a.
THANKSGIVING


popular belief ascribes it's exclusively
to our Pilgrim forefathers, but this
idea is erroneous. 1t is quite pos
sible that the original idea may have
been given in the Hebrew feast of
the tabernacles'' or feast of the in
gathering" at the close of the year.
Then families gathered together, dwelt
in booths and gave thanks for the
bounty of the harvest.
European history records several
notable thanksgiving observances,
among which was that following the
battle of Crecy, when Edward III is
sued orders that all Boosting of the
valor of the English army and all
insulting of the conquered should be
restrained for ito God alone was due
the praise and to him thanks should
be given" After the Black Prince
had won the decisive battle of Poi
tiers a solemn Thanksgiving was
publicly observed throughout ali
England for eight days The destruc-
ton of the Spanish armada was an
other occasion for a season of prayer
and thanksgiving proclaimed by Eng
lands queen, Elizabeth. Probably one
of the most notable observances in all
Europe was the great day of rejoicing
on October 8, 1876, when the people
with songs, and yet with tears. gave
thanks for the relief of Leyden.
The observance of occasions for
thanksgiving in their native country
'. may have suggested the idea to the
aarf,, colonists, but Thanksgiving
day as It Is non :, observed DIS Is essen
TALLY an American iRshs~ ~,
No definite date ear be set as IA,
flrst observance of the day III thfs
country. \ In 1921 the Pilgrims at
Plymouth observed a harvest festival
which, judged by their Puritan GUS
toms. was not iii any scuse thanks
giving. Several WRITER'S however,
Claim it as the progeniter of our own
harvest feast, and state that it was
IN reality the first Thanksgiving It
Certainly differs from our modern
ideas, in that no religious service Is
mentioned and whole week was
given up to festivity The biblical
Jewish feast of ingathering already
mentioned Or the harvest home of
England may have furnished the mo-
tive to the colonists for their own
harvest festival
The first recorded appointment of
a special thanksgiving day was in
1923. The previous year had been a
gloomy and unfortunate one for the
eolonists, the rapid depletion of their
store of food supplies and the delay
Of a ship bearing fresh supplies great
ly intensifying their anxiety. Their
condition must have been discourag-
ing, indeed, for no autumnal thanks
giving was observed and the coming
of winter increased their sufferings
A great drouth in 1923 not long after
the spring planting threatened the en-
tire settlement with starvation, and
in order to avert the terrible calamity
a Gay of humiliation and prayer was
appointed, and in the midst of the
solemn observance the rain descended
and proved real showers of bless
ing" The crops were saved and the
colony was spared the horrors of star
walton. And so, as grateful &C
Acknowledgement of their blessings. and
to thank God with all their hearts
for the good world and the good
things in it, the first American
Thanksgiving was officially proclaim
ed and was duly celebrated, The
people with one accord gathered in
the church and listened to a sermon
preached by Elder Brewster and ev-
cry heart was filled with deep thanks
giving.
The little colony had occasion again
for second public thanksgiving July
8. 1880, after the arrival of IA vessels
bringing $40 colonists. Their num-
bers from 1920 to 1880 had increased
TO only 300, and this welcome Access
sion to their numbers deserved suit
able recognition.
In 1851 in Charlestown a fast day
WIS changed TO one of Thanksgiving
when a ship arrived with supplies
which were greatly needed. :.
In 1888. upon the recommendation
of Governor Winthrop to his own
colony and his invitation to the neigh
boring colony. there was joint OBJ
servance of a day in Boston and Ply
mouth. Other days officially appoint
ed as is shown by the colonial rec
ords of the colony of Massachusetts
bay were in 1884. 1887, 1888 and 1889;
and Plymouth colony observed days in
1861, 1861 $780, 1888, 1859 and 1893
One Of the Plymouth laws states
that it be the power of the governor
and assistants; to command solemn
days of humiliation by fasting, etc.
Also fer thanksgiving as occasion
shall be offered Beginning with
1886 the proclamation was an annual
one as is shown by the fornn,- instead
of the special thanksgiving publicly
proclaimed in the earlier years of the
colony.
The Dutch who came to America