Today is Thanksgiving Day. Although the Thanksgiving festivities celebrated by the Pilgrims and a tribe of Wampanoag Indians happened in 1621, it wasn’t until 1789 that the newly sworn-in President George Washington declared, in his first presidential proclamation, a day of national “thanksgiving and prayer” for that November.
The holiday fell out of custom, though, and by the mid 1800s only a handful of states officially celebrated Thanksgiving, on a date of their choice. It was the editor of a women’s magazine, Sarah Josepha Hale, a widow and the author of the poem “Mary Had a Little Lamb,” who campaigned for a return of the holiday. For 36 years, she wrote articles about the Plymouth colonists in her magazine, trying to revive interest in the subject, and editorials suggesting a national holiday. Hale wrote to four presidents about her idea — Taylor, Fillmore, Pierce, and Buchanan — before her fifth letter got notice. In 1863, exactly 74 years after Washington had made his proclamation, President Lincoln issued his own, asking that citizens “in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise.” He requested prayers especially for those widowed and orphaned by the ongoing Civil War, as well as gratitude for “fruitful fields,” enlarging borders of settlements, abundant mines, and a burgeoning population.
Just ‘cause you da man, don’t mean you da boss.Real men understand our beloved wives rule our hearts and we will do whatever it takes to make them happy.-For only in THEIR happiness can we be happy.
Llewellenbruce about 11 years ago
You don’t see Muffins sitting in the chair next toEarl very often.
Superfrog about 11 years ago
You are Da Man, Earl. This is a temporary promotion.
2252895 about 11 years ago
Happy Thanksgiving everyone. Enjoy and please be safe.
gkid about 11 years ago
America is still great and we thankGod for living here. It is still the bestcountry in the world.
tahoeh2o about 11 years ago
Today is Thanksgiving Day. Although the Thanksgiving festivities celebrated by the Pilgrims and a tribe of Wampanoag Indians happened in 1621, it wasn’t until 1789 that the newly sworn-in President George Washington declared, in his first presidential proclamation, a day of national “thanksgiving and prayer” for that November.
The holiday fell out of custom, though, and by the mid 1800s only a handful of states officially celebrated Thanksgiving, on a date of their choice. It was the editor of a women’s magazine, Sarah Josepha Hale, a widow and the author of the poem “Mary Had a Little Lamb,” who campaigned for a return of the holiday. For 36 years, she wrote articles about the Plymouth colonists in her magazine, trying to revive interest in the subject, and editorials suggesting a national holiday. Hale wrote to four presidents about her idea — Taylor, Fillmore, Pierce, and Buchanan — before her fifth letter got notice. In 1863, exactly 74 years after Washington had made his proclamation, President Lincoln issued his own, asking that citizens “in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise.” He requested prayers especially for those widowed and orphaned by the ongoing Civil War, as well as gratitude for “fruitful fields,” enlarging borders of settlements, abundant mines, and a burgeoning population.
PMark about 11 years ago
Yes, Earl, you “Da Man”, and Opal “Da Mans” you vacuum.
SallyLin about 11 years ago
Thank you, beviek and stomps, for the history lessons. Interesting!
jtviper7 almost 11 years ago
I hope Earl’s done by kickoff…
loner34 almost 11 years ago
Happy Thanksgiving to all.
ChessPirate almost 11 years ago
Da Man of the House… keeping.
milania almost 11 years ago
WTF is “FREE DRY?”
Bill Hand almost 11 years ago
How can a cat and a vacuum cleaner exist in the same room?
David Huie Green LoveJoyAndPeace almost 11 years ago
Just ‘cause you da man, don’t mean you da boss.Real men understand our beloved wives rule our hearts and we will do whatever it takes to make them happy.-For only in THEIR happiness can we be happy.