The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1933-11-24
BY ELMO SCOTT WATSON

A SIX ten Americans why do we cele-
"a brate Thanksgiving on the last Thurs
~ day in November" and nine of them
-Nz probably will answer "Why, that's
EcWM because the Pilgrim Fathers who es-
tablished 1t celebrated it then" And
that like so many of our popular
~ beliefs" is only half-truth, at best.
It's true that the Pilgrim Fathers
principally responsible for Thanksgiving day be-
ing red-letter day On calendars But it's
also true that we owe the establishment of
Thanksgiving day a national holiday on GER
tain date Certain to the extent that II always
occurs the last Thursday in November) MAIN
ly to two persons. man and a woman to Abra-
ham Lincoln and Sarah Josepha Hale.
But before discussing their part in the matter
of establishing this popular national holiday,
let's check up bit on the history of the de-
velopment Of Thanksgiving. The story of the
first New England Thanksgiving from which our
present-day celebration is a direct descendant,
is familiar TO all Americans-how that first
winter of the Pilgrims in America had been a
terrible one of cold and sickness which had left
only IS of the little company Of 101 alive when
the spring Of 1921 came around how all through
the summer they watched with the greatest
anxiety the progress of the crops they had sown,
and how when autumn came there was a boun-
tiful harvest
Then, according to Mounts Relation or Jour
nal Of the Plantation at Plymouth: sour har-
vest being gotten In. our Gouvenour sent foure
men on fowling, that so we might after a more
speciall manner rejouce together, after we had
gathered the fruit of our labours; they foure in
one day killed as much fowle. as with little
helpe besides. served the Company almost a week,
at which time amongst other Recreations we
exercised our Armes, many of the Indians COM
ing amongst us. and amongst the rest their
greatest King Massasoyt. with some ninetie men.
whom for three dayes we entertained and
Toasted, and they went out and killed FIVE
Deere. which they brought to the Plantation and
bestowed on our Gouvernour, and upon the Cap
tame. and Others"
The exact date of this first Thanksgiving"
has never been definitely determined although
Governor Bradford's History of Plimoth Planta-
ton" and Mounts Relation" indicate that it
occurred between September % and November
IL, probably in the latter month. II was pri-
marily a harvest festival several days Of feast
ing and rejoicing rather than one day set apart
for religious services although during the cele-
bration no doubt the Pilgrims frequently
pressed their gratitude to the Creator for his
gifts Of food and security and release from fear
Of another winter Of hardship.
The popular view is that this first Thanks
giving" was the beginning Of a series Of such
celebrations every year. But the fact Is that
the following year. 1922. no such observance
Cured In 1923 day Of thanksgiving was held
but not in the autumn and not in connection
with the harvest. 1t was observed on July 30
and had to do with the safe arrival of a ship
load of provisions from England
From then on for decades THANKSGIVING was
observed in most irregular fashion. Some years
were skipped; some years had more than one
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. for the arrival of ships.
more often for victory over the Indians as In the
instance Of quelling the Pequots in 1897 and the
defeat of King Philip in 1916. It was not until
1859 that the Massachusetts general court issued
the first recorded formal Thanksgiving proc
lamation.
Other New England colonies followed the lead
of Massachusetts. In Connecticut, the observ-
ance of this custom was more regular than in
the Massachusetts, Bay or Plymouth circles.
With one exception, records are extant for every
season from 1647 The missing celebration was
in the year 1915. when. on account of Indian mas
sacres. no celebration was held. Thus. although
TO the Pilgrims of Plymouth. or the Puritans Of
Boston, may be traced the origin of Thanksgiv-
ing day in America, the constancy of the people
In Connecticut has brought it down TO us as an
annual celebration
During the Revolutionary war the people and
the army observed annual Thanksgiving day
by proclamation of the Continental congress. but
after peace was declared it was discontinued
until 17S9.
In that year new element came into the
observance of Thanksgiving and one which has
survived In the present celebration. That was
the Presidential proclamation of Thanksgiving
day for the whole natiel and II was George
Washington the first President, who issued such
a proclamation setting aside Thursday, Novem-
Der 26 17s9. as a day THAT we may then all
,n;fo IN rendering unto Him our sincere and