Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1916-11-30

AS q hoituay, Dut in New England 1t -
a festival, a domestic feast day and the
chief of all holidays. Americans like
to believe that Thanksgiving day IS
purely and simply American. and 1t is,
hut as instituted in New England the |
idea was borrowed from the Dutch,
among whom the Pilgrims had dwell
for ten years after leaving British soil
and before elnigrating to America. The
Hollandprs had been accustomed to
celebrating October 3 both religiously
and socially, In honor Of their deliver
ance from the SpaniardS, and when the |
first harvest in the new home OF the |
English emigrants had yielded well Ii
seemed the natural thing to rejoice In !
a period OF public Thanksgiving.
Some deserted Indian nuts stored |
with corn had furnished the nucleus Of |
that harvest, and an Indian chief who |
had once been in England and conse-
Guently trusted EnglisliInen gave the
Pilgrims instruction as to the planting
Of the grain and the procuring of game
rs well. Upon this first harvest rested
the wcllheing of the little colony SC
r1any of whose members had persisted
in that first fierce winter which follow
Cd the landing of the Mnyaower in De-
Crmbcr. 1920. The hardest, who sur
lived wcr" humhly grateful for the
rich harvest in October, which followed
the nC%hh0rly natives suggestions
and Governor Bradford ordered 9
,h""r-Iny feast and celebration as rec
n:nilion Of such plenitude. The In
dams VINO had first extended the hand
Of welcOme To the pale faces there
were invited to attend and bring their
friends.
New Thanksgiving Foods.
In Holland the settlers had partaken
of Spanish stew as the common dish
of the Thanksgiving day. but in
new country with new foods to use,
geese, turkeys. water fowl and ducks
were eaten. Bread made OF barley
| and corn took the place of wheat
| bread, as n necessity, and Goldfish had
| It's first inning as matter Of both his
| tory and gnStrOnomy among white peo-
| Die. The guests OF the forest brought
| teer as friendly contribution to
| ward the feast. And this IS presumed
| ~ many persons to be the first real
| thank SgiVing Uy In America. Yet,
| ,inCe there Was no special religious
tervice upon this occasion, recognized
3uthorl les disGlaiI1 this theory OF
| he origin.
Rather, they point to july 30. IG23,
| when Miles Stnndlsh returned from a
| ,nydEe with sadly neCued provisions
| tud the glad tidiugs that a ship WAS
| 1caring the SHUrr. When this ship
he Anne huu anchored ana relatives
md friends necessarily left briluh IT.
| II0lIand because the NaytinWrr Cuut,
| l0t utCOmulU,!atr all those seeking u
.&rOus fire., dom IN the new world, hu'
oiu, 4 the little colony 1T riy}noutI
h. colOn.stS were So OverJoye'i that
,,uhllc service or prayer ana thank
giving was considered ne"t. his
lnlding beth religious and $n~ta. eic
.nent>, is in the mines OF New I'm,
.&ndcrs. tn" basis OF the national Gel,
DratiOn today.
Long Time Between Celebrations.
But two centuries and Il nAit rI,.Dse,
| before the nation uS "A unit tUiI"Mt
the early example. Local ccIvOr"
ions throughout MaSSu> ,,uSvttS Dr
anne comlunu .neuuWhile and in 1861
/ public Thanksgiving day WAS nei'
u Boston Ivy the BAY colony, thong,
lie first written record Of such II vH>
It'll rriuHinng a the cO!onint recnru>
Of the Bay state credits February ,.
t63l. This mad been appointed as ii
fast day by Governor WiIILtUp on a.
count OF the severe rcVerSes witt
which the cnInny had iuCt. The wealth
er had been unusually cold the entir.
winter, game was scarce and III
Lyon, which had pern dis atched Il
Enganu for food, WAS given az as los:
ON the high seas. The children nat,
come To digging rluS>elS out OF tn,
frozen ground as hrip in Sustainin
life, and finally five kernels of corn
were given out as the daily ration >.
each CoIuuSt. The fast day appolntr.
then was not merely for ahstnenLe
from food, for that was prHctically III,
perative anyway, but II was to re
u special day of SuppliCation for fooC
and greater comfort. A day or two be-
fore the appointed time the tong
lookrd-for Lyon came sailing into til,
hArOVr tndrn with provisions ana the
/ fast day hecHlle feast day instead