The Dallas express. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1893-1970, 1922-12-02

Hebrews celebrated a similar fes-
| tival called the Feast of the Tab
ernaclesX During this festival the
people assembled in large numbers
at Jerusalem. No work was done
and the time was given up to feast
ing and celebration.
The harvest festival of the an
cient Greeks was known as the
feast of Demeter. the goddess Of
agriculture, which was celebrated in
November The Romans worshipped
the same deity under the name Of
Ceres in October each year. The
Druids of ancient Britain celebrated
their harvest festival on the first Of
November. Some of the American
Indians had an autumn festival not
unlike these. In Scotland the fes-
tival not unlike these. In Scotland
the festival was observed under the
name Of "Kern." In England the
festival was known as the "Har-
vest Home"
Days of thanksgiving for special
occasions have been common in all
Christian countries in all ages, Sew
Ieral such celebrations have been
held in England one of which was
for the defeat Of the Spanish Ar
NADIA in 1888. The Inhabitants Of
Leyden, Holland, for many years
observed October third as day Of
thanksgiving in memory of the de-
liverance Of that day from the Span
iards in 1874. The fact that this
was popular festival among the
Dutch during the ten years the
Pilgrims lived in Holland may have
suggested to them the idea of
thanksgiving celebrations which they
held after landing in America.
II is altogether probable that the
first thanksgiving service in North
America was held on May 81, 1878
by the f'robisher expedition, on the
shores of New Foundland. These
ceremonies we're conducted by an
English minister named Wolfall.
Our Thanksgiving Day.
The first record of thanksgiving
service within the present limits of
the United States was that held by
the Popham colony who settled on
the coast Of Maine in August, 1907.
From an old record is taken this
account of the event: Sunday be-
ing the nineth of August, in the
morning, the most part of our hole
company of both our hole company
of both our ships, landed on this
island, where the cross standeth,
and there we heard sermon de-
livered unto us by our preacher,
giving God thanks for our happy
and safe arrival into this
country; and SO returned aboard
again"
According to some authorities a
service was held by
the Pilgrims as early as December
1920, soon after the landing of the
This, however. was
Thanksgiving service.
Day. such as we now
celebrate. was originated by Gov
ernor Bradford, of Plymouth. In
1920, the Pilgrims land
ed on the lonesome coast of New
and passed the ensuing
winter with great suffering and
privation. When Springtime came
they all got busy and planted
crop. Its growth was watched far
more carefully than a new baby.
The very lives of the colonists de-
pended upon the success Of that
first crop. There was tremendous
rejoicing in the Autumn when
bumper crop was harvested. Cover
nor Bradford issued proclamation
Of thanksgiving. In order to have
ample provisions for the occasion
he sent out four men in search Of
wild game. They returned with
tine haul, consisting largely of tur-
keys. II is doubtless due to this
Incident that the turkey has always
been considered a necessary feature
If every thanksgiving dinner. This
'irst big thanksgiving festival last
ID nearly a week. The principal
guests comprised a large number Of
friendly Indians. including the fam
Jus chief Massasoit.