Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1912-11-22

The idea of Thanksgiving day goes back to
remotest antiquity. 1t is part of natural religion
and Is probably as old as the human race. In
written records we have ample evidence that the
festival was celebrated in connection with "the
fruits of the earth by the ancient Egyptians, the
Jews, the Creeks and the Romans Long before
Luther's revolt from Rome in the sixteenth
fury 1t had been observed by the Christians; and
after the reformation, thanksgiving days were
in frequent use by the Professionals, especially
those Of England.
In old Egypt, when the harvest had been gath
creed, it was the custom to observe a day OF
feast1ng, and to lay offerings upon the affairs of
Isis, the goddess of agriculture. The Jewish fes-
tival was the "ingathering," the feast of the
tabernacle" mentioned in Exodus and other parts
Of the Old Testament. This particu-
arly thanksgiving for the fruit harvest, and as
it at the close of the entire harvest 1t prob
ably was intended also a general thanksgiv-
ing "for the bounty of nature" in the year that
had passed.
This festival appears early in Jewish history
and, it connected with the land and it's
possession, may have had Canaanitish proto
type. It's celebration annual and each festi
val continued through seven days. At the begin
ming two vessels of silver carried in
ceremonious manner to the temple, full of
water, the other Of wine which poured at
the foot of the altar of burnt offerings, always
the seventh day Of the festival"
Plutarch describes this ceremonial which he
believed was feast to Bacchus He says: 1.-THE
Jews celebrated two feasts to Bacchus In the
midst of the vintage they spread tables, spread
with all manner of fruits, and live In tabernacles
made especially Of palms and ivy wreaths to-
gether. "a few days later they kept
other festival which openly dedicated to
Bacchus, for they carried boughs of palms in
their hands with which they went into the tenn
pie, the Levites going before with instruments of
music"
Analogous to the Jewish festival and possibly
borrowed from 1t was that of the old Creeks the
Thesmorphia This a feast to Demeter, the
goddess Of the harvest. 1t lasted line days and
consisted of sacrifices of the products of the soil
with oblations of wine. milk and honey" Theo-
critus refers to 1t in the Seventh Idyl where ST.
nicholas says Now this is our way to the
Thalysia. for friends in sooth, are making a
feast to Demeter of the beautiful robe, offering
the first fruits of their abundance since for them
In bounteous manner the goddess has piled the
thrashing floor with barley"
The goddess of the Roman harvest was Ceres.
Her festival celebrated annually and
called Ceralia. 1t was day for worship and
rustic sports. Men and women formed process
sons and went to the fields with music Virgil
refers to this festival. He mentions the sacri-
fees that were offered In the temples and alludes
to the joyousness Of the occasion
In one way or another Thanksgiving day had
been observed in Christian Europe for centuries
before its celebration in New England. On the
continent, and for time In England, 1t occurred
at Martinmas, which day Of feasting and
drinking. Occasionally, too, civil authorities
recommended the observance of some fixed day.
To celebrate the victory of King Henry V. of Eng
land at Agincourt, Oct 25, 1415, public thanks
giving held Sunday, the feast of st. Ed
ward the king and confessor. Such day, too,
was observed in Leyden, Holland, Oct 8, 1875, the
first anniversary of that city from the siege by
the Spanards.
Many instances of thanksgiving days be
pointed out In England during the sixteenth and
Elizabeth's reign Thanksgiving day entered Roga-
ton day. Then 1t was ordered that thanks should
be given to Almighty God for the increase and
abundance of his fruits upon the earth" In this
reign, too, there was great national thanksgiv
Ing day that is worthy of note. This occurred
Tuesday Nov. 10, 1858, and was in commemora
ton Of the great victory over the ''invincible
armada" 1t had been described by Nicol In his
Progress of Queen Elizabeth" BY Stowe, and by
some other contemporary writer's. We told
that ''the day was kept holy throughout the
realm, with sermons, singing of psalms, bonfires
etc, for Joy and thanksgiving unto God for the
overthrow of the Spanards, enemies the
sea- and the citizens of London in their liveries
that day had a sermon at ST Paul's cross tending
to that end"
One legal and annual thanksgiving day be-
cause OF the long time it such deserves spe-
cIad mention. After the traitors in the gunpowder