The History of
Thanksgiving and its Celebrations
Throughout history mankind has celebrated the
bountiful harvest with thanksgiving ceremonies.
Before the establishment of formal religions many
ancient farmers believed that their crops contained
spirits which caused the crops to grow and die. Many
believed that these spirits would be released when
the crops were harvested and they had to be
destroyed or they would take revenge on the farmers
who harvested them. Some of the harvest festivals
celebrated the defeat of these spirits.
Harvest festivals and thanksgiving celebrations were
held by the ancient Greeks, the Romans, the Hebrews,
the Chinese, and the Egyptians.
The Greeks
The ancient Greeks worshipped many gods and
goddesses. Their goddess of corn (actually all
grains) was Demeter who was honored at the festival
of Thesmosphoria held each autumn.
On the first day of the festival married women
(possibility connecting childbearing and the raising
of crops) would build leafy shelters and furnish
them with couches made with plants. On the second
day they fasted. On the third day a feast was held
and offerings to the goddess Demeter were made -
gifts of seed corn, cakes, fruit, and pigs. It was
hoped that Demeter's gratitude would grant them a
good harvest.
The Romans
The Romans also celebrated a harvest festival
called Cerelia, which honored Ceres their goddess of
corn (from which the word cereal comes). The
festival was held each year on October 4th and
offerings of the first fruits of the harvest and
pigs were offered to Ceres. Their celebration
included music, parades, games and sports and a
thanksgiving feast.
The Chinese
The ancient Chinese celebrated their harvest
festival, Chung Ch'ui, with the full moon that fell
on the 15th day of the 8th month. This day was
considered the birthday of the moon and special
"moon cakes", round and yellow like the moon, would
be baked. Each cake was stamped with the picture of
a rabbit - as it was a rabbit, not a man, which the
Chinese saw on the face of the moon.
The families ate a thanksgiving meal and feasted on
roasted pig, harvested fruits and the "moon cakes".
It was believed that during the 3 day festival
flowers would fall from the moon and those who saw
them would be rewarded with good fortune.
According to legend Chung Ch'ui also gave thanks for
another special occasion. China had been conquered
by enemy armies who took control of the Chinese
homes and food. The Chinese found themselves
homeless and with no food. Many staved. In order to
free themselves they decided to attack the invaders.
The women baked special moon cakes which were
distributed to every family. In each cake was a
secret message which contained the time for the
attack. When the time came the invaders were
surprised and easily defeated. Every year moon cakes
are eaten in memory of this victory.
The Hebrews
Jewish families also celebrate a harvest festival
called Sukkoth. Taking place each autumn, Sukkoth
has been celebrated for over 3000 years.
Sukkoth is know by 2 names - Hag ha Succot - the
Feast of the Tabernacles and Hag ha Asif - the Feast
of Ingathering. Sukkoth begins on the 15th day of
the Hebrew month of Tishri, 5 days after Yom Kippur
the most solemn day of the Jewish year.
Sukkoth is named for the huts (succots) that Moses
and the Israelites lived in as they wandered the
desert for 40 years before they reached the Promised
Land. These huts were made of branches and were easy
to assemble, take apart, and carry as the Israelites
wandered through the desert.
When celebrating Sukkoth, which lasts for 8 days,
the Jewish people build small huts of branches which
recall the tabernacles of their ancestors. These
huts are constructed as temporary shelters, as the
branches are not driven into the ground and the roof
is covered with foliage which is spaced to let the
light in. Inside the huts are hung fruits and
vegetables, including apples, grapes, corn, and
pomegranates. On the first 2 nights of Sukkoth the
families eat their meals in the huts under the
evening sky.
The Egyptians
The ancient Egyptians celebrated their harvest
festival in honor of Min, their god of vegetation
and fertility. The festival was held in the
springtime, the Egyptian's harvest season.
The festival of Min featured a parade in which the
Pharaoh took part. After the parade a great feast
was held. Music, dancing, and sports were also part
of the celebration.
When the Egyptian farmers harvested their corn, they
wept and pretended to be grief-stricken. This was to
deceive the spirit which they believed lived in the
corn. They feared the spirit would become angry when
the farmers cut down the corn where it lived.
The United States
In 1621, after a hard and devastating first year in
the New World the Pilgrim's fall harvest was very
successful and plentiful. There was corn, fruits,
vegetables, along with fish which was packed in
salt, and meat that was smoke cured over fires. They
found they had enough food to put away for the
winter.
The Pilgrims had beaten the odds. They built homes
in the wilderness, they raised enough crops to keep
them alive during the long coming winter, and they
were at peace with their Indian neighbors. Their
Governor, William Bradford, proclaimed a day of
thanksgiving that was to be shared by all the
colonists and the neighboring Native American
Indians.
The custom of an annually celebrated thanksgiving,
held after the harvest, continued through the years.
During the American Revolution (late 1770's) a day
of national thanksgiving was suggested by the
Continental Congress.
In 1817 New York State adopted Thanksgiving Day as
an annual custom. By the middle of the 19th century
many other states also celebrated a Thanksgiving
Day. In 1863 President Abraham Lincoln appointed a
national day of thanksgiving. Since then each
president has issued a Thanksgiving Day
proclamation, usually designating the fourth
Thursday of each November as the holiday.
Canada
Thanksgiving in Canada is celebrated on the second
Monday in October. Observance of the day began in
1879.
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