Oxford eagle., 1913-11-20
luAYs OF PAST THANKSGIVING
history Proves that There Always H,s
Been Time Set Apart for
Festivities.

Thanksgiving is generally believed
TO have commenced with the advent Of
tie Pilgrim fathers. and therefore a
leeey to us from New England. But
wnsn the true facts in the case come
70 light we find that Thanksgiving day
was frst celebrated By Popham colon
ists a. Monhegan. who joined in Civ.
Ing God thanks for their safe arrival
and many blessings In the ritual laid
down In the Thanksgiving service o.
the Church OF England prayer book. n
is known with what antipathy the
early Purttans regarded any and all Of
the holy days OF the English church.
and the celebration Of such was stern
iy forbidden in New England.
How many OF US know that days for
giving thanks were set apart In Europe
long before the reformation and we're
observed by the Church OF England
many years before the Pilgrims land
edr 2
The nrvt Tnanksgivins In this coun-
Try was not set apar, as a day OF re-
iisious observance. but for recreation.
On December IL. 1871. Edward Wins
low wrote home to England the follow
Ing very quaint account OF the weeks
program:
Our harvest being gotten IN. our
governor sent four men out fowlinx 80
We might IN a special manner rejoice
together after We had gathered the
fruits Of our labors. The four killed
30 much fowl that with a little help
served the company about a week.
Among other recreations we're exer-
ciees with our arms. Many Of the In
dams came amongst us and among
them their greatest king Massasoit
with some ninety men, whom We for
three days toasted and entertained.
They went out and killed Ave deer,
which they brought in and bestowed
on our governor. upon the captains and
others
30 ~ get a good idea OF the hos
pitaiity offered in those days. We
learn. too. from Governor Bradford,
that wild turkeys were plentiful. 30 we
feel a reasonable assurance that the
turkey has long and ancient lineage
and prestige not TO be usurped by any
other bird on our Thanksgiving day
platter
Only hfty-ave English speaking peo-
pie sat down to the nrst Thanksday
feast, but the addition Of the Indiana
made a goodly company for whom the
poor. lonely and homesick women pre-
rnd che lnn n.
four OF them. with one servant "and
a few young meidekins." There is no
record to be found Of any religious
worship during this week OF feasting.
In 1873 the second Thanksgiving day
vas ordered and observed by the Pill
grim fathers. Early Thanksgivings are
not always celebrated In November
nor upon Thursday. and IL is not until
1871 that we find the nrst printed
Thanksgiving proclamation. nov owned
BY the Massachusetts, Historical So
ciety. IL Is interesting to note that
since 1852 the president Of the United
States has set the last Thursday In
November TO be observed as . day Of
thanksgiving And barking back &c
Pilgrim days. what = vast differences
Compare tn harvest then and the has
vest now. Whether cur forefather
were ever actually reduced to the tru
ditionaf nve grains Of corn each. 10
fact not decided by history. but II 4
true that they returned thanks for tn.
most measer fare and endured IN.
most grinding hardships without a
murmur. Like our forbears We make
of the day a great time for feassins
and games and not SO much Of church
going. Il Ia day for family reunions
and a day OF abundant opportunity for
making n cause OF Thanksgiving in the
other fellows heart.