Thanksgiving's surprising Civil War roots

[Louisiana1976]

While its mythology might lead us to imagine America has been celebrating it ever since the Pilgrims joined with their Indian neighbors to throw a feast of gratitude after surviving a brutal winter, Thanksgiving as a national U.S. holiday is actually a more recent tradition -- first proclaimed by President Lincoln in the midst of the Civil War.

Lincoln was inspired by a series of editorials and letters written by Sarah Josepha Hale, the New England editor of the hugely influential magazine Godey's Lady's Book. Though like earlier presidents he initially resisted Hale's appeals, Lincoln eventually embraced the idea of creating a national Thanksgiving holiday as a day of unity amid the strife of the war.

snip

http://www.southernstudies.org/2009/11/remembering-thanksgivings-civil-war-roots.html

[Laelth]

1. k&r for the truth. n/t

:dem:

-Laelth

[Raine]

2. Interesting

THANKS! :thumbsup:

[REP]

Did everyone else sleep through American History?

Popularized during the Civil War to try to focus on Americam commonalities during a time of division and strife is what I was taught in college. But that was in the 80s.

[RoyGBiv]

5. Was wondering the same thing ...

I'm not sure why this factoid should be labeled as "surprising."

[REP]

3. Did everyone else sleep through American History?

Popularized during the Civil War to try to focus on Americam commonalities during a time of division and strife is what I was taught in college. But that was in the 80s.

[arcadian]

4. Berkeley Plantation in Virginia claims the first Thanksgiving,

Ancestral home on the Harrisons of Virginia. Benjamin, signer of the Declaration of Independence and William Henry, also grand son Benjamin, there are some Roman numerals there for the Benjamin's but for get where they go. :D

http://www.virginia.org/site/features.asp?featureID=50

[Obamanaut]

6. And there's the George Washington one also

http://www.allabouthistory.org/thanksgiving-history.htm

<snip>Thanksgiving History – The Thanksgiving Proclamation
New York, 3 October 1789

“…Now therefore I do recommend and assign Thursday the 26th day of November next to be devoted by the People of these States to the service of that great and…”

“…Given under my hand at the City of New-York the third day of October in the year of our Lord 1789.

George Washington”

And also from Honest Abe:

<snip>Thanksgiving History – The Day

Proclamation Establishing Thanksgiving Day October 3, 1863

And then there's the period when it was changed and it was not celebrated on the same Thursday in all the states - T'giving has had a varied history.