Harvest Holiday Thanksgiving Day is really a harvest festival. This is why it is celebrated in late fall, after the crops are in. But one of the first thanksgivings in America had nothing to do with a good harvest. On December 4th, 1619, colonists from England landed near what is now Charles City, Virginia. They knelt down and thanked God for their safe journey across the Atlantic. The first New England Thanksgiving did celebrate a plentiful harvest. The Pilgrims landed at what is now Plymouth, Massachusettes, in 1620. They had a difficult time, and the first winter was cruel. Mandy of the Pilgrims died. But the next year, in 1621, they had a good harvest. So, Governer Bradford declared a three-day feast. The Pilgrims invited Indian friends to join them for the special feast. Everyone brought food. There was fish, deer meat (venison), turkey, and duck. Corn was crushed to make hot corn-meal bread and Indian pudding. In time, other colonies began to celebrate a day of thanksgiving. But there was no national Thanksgiving Day. During the Civil War, Sarah Josepha Hale, who wrote "Mary Had a Little Lamb," convinced Abraham Lincoln to do something about it. He proclaimed the last Thursday of November 1863 as a day of prayerful thanksgiving. Today, Americans celebrate this happy harvest festival on the fourth Thursday in November. Canadians celebrate Thanksgiving Day in much the same way as their American neighbors. But the Canadian Thanksgiving Day falls on the second Monday in October.

Thanksgiving Day Over the river and through the wood, To Grandfather's house we go, The horse knows the way To carry the sleigh Through the white and drifted snow. Over the river and through the wood, Oh, how the wind does blow! It stings the toes, And bites the nose, As over the ground we go. Over the river and through the wood, To have a first-rate play, Hear the bells ring, "Ting-a-ling-ling!" Hurrah for Thanksgiving Day! Over the river and through the wood, Trot fast my dapple gray! Spring over the ground, Like a hunting hound! For this is Thanksgiving Day! Over the river and through the wood, And straight through the barnyard gate, We seem to go Extremely slow, It is so hard to wait! Over the river and through the wood - Now Grandmother's cap I spy! Hurrah for the fun Is the pudding done? Hurrah for the pumpkin pie! - Lydia Maria Child

*Background courtesy of MommyMall.*