• The Woman Who Made Thanksgiving a Holiday

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The Woman Who Made Thanksgiving a Holiday

By: Quiet.Please
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  • Sarah Josepha Hale: The Woman Who Made Thanksgiving a National Holiday" - Part 1 of Our Thanksgiving Series On October 3, 1863, as the Civil War raged across a divided nation, President Abraham Lincoln took a moment to focus on gratitude. With the stroke of a pen, he established Thanksgiving as a national holiday, fulfilling a dream that one determined woman had pursued for nearly two decades. The story of how Thanksgiving became a unified American celebration weaves together persistence, politics, and the power of the written word. Sarah Josepha Hale, often remembered today as the author of "Mary Had a Little Lamb," was far more than a children's poet. As the influential editor of Godey's Lady's Book, the most widely circulated magazine in pre-Civil War America, she wielded considerable cultural and political influence. Beginning in 1846, she launched what would become a 17-year campaign to make Thanksgiving a national holiday, seeing it as a way to unite an increasingly fractured nation. Hale's vision of Thanksgiving was both romantic and pragmatic. In her editorials, she painted vivid pictures of families gathered around bountiful tables, sharing not just food but also stories and traditions. She published Thanksgiving recipes, poems, and stories, helping to create the cultural touchstones we now associate with the holiday. But beneath this domestic imagery lay a shrewd understanding of how shared traditions could bind a nation together. Her campaign began during the presidency of Zachary Taylor, with carefully crafted letters arguing for a unified celebration date. Different states celebrated Thanksgiving on different days, if they celebrated it at all. Southern states often ignored the holiday, viewing it as a Northern custom with Puritan roots. Hale saw this disparity as both a practical problem and a missed opportunity for national unity. Year after year, Hale penned editorials and letters, reaching out to governors, presidents, and other influential figures. Her letters to five successive presidents - Taylor, Fillmore, Pierce, Buchanan, and finally Lincoln - show a remarkable evolution in her argument. What began as a plea for cultural unity became, during the darkening days before the Civil War, an urgent call for national preservation. The responses she received illuminate the political complexities of the era. President Fillmore expressed interest but feared setting a precedent for federal involvement in religious matters. Pierce politely declined, viewing it as a state issue. Buchanan, preoccupied with mounting sectional tensions, never formally responded. But Hale persisted, adapting her arguments to the changing national mood. Her letters to Lincoln began in 1861, just as the Civil War was starting. She wrote, "You may have observed that, for some years past, there has been an increasing interest felt in our land to have the Thanksgiving held on the same day, in all the States; it now needs National recognition and authoritative fixation, only, to become permanently, an American custom and institution." The timing of Lincoln's eventual acceptance was significant. By autumn 1863, the tide of war had shifted slightly in the Union's favor. The Battle of Gettysburg had ended in Union victory, though at a devastating cost. The president, deeply affected by the war's mounting casualties, had recently visited the Gettysburg battlefield. His decision to embrace Thanksgiving came at a moment when the nation desperately needed healing and hope. The immediate implementation of Lincoln's proclamation revealed both the power and limitations of presidential authority in 1863. While Northern states quickly adopted the designated Thursday, compliance wasn't universal. Some states maintained their traditional dates alongside the national observance, creating a period of thanksgiving rather than a single day. This flexibility actually helped the holiday take root, allowing local traditions to gradually align with the national celebration. The first nationally recognized Thanksgiving under Lincoln's proclamation occurred on November 26, 1863. Despite the ongoing war, or perhaps because of it, the response was remarkable. Military camps held special meals, with commanders making extraordinary efforts to provide turkey and traditional fixings to their troops. Home-front celebrations often included empty chairs at tables, symbolizing family members away at war, a tradition that would continue long after the conflict ended. Sarah Josepha Hale's reaction to Lincoln's proclamation was one of quiet triumph. In her editorial for Godey's Lady's Book, she wrote, "Our national thanksgiving festival will now be observed on the same day throughout the land... The influence of these gatherings will be invaluable to our national union." She continued publishing Thanksgiving-themed content, but now focused on helping Americans develop shared traditions rather than arguing for the holiday's establishment. The proclamation's...
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Episodes
  • Part 3- How Thanksgiving Evolved After Lincoln

    Part 3- How Thanksgiving Evolved After Lincoln
    Nov 1 2024
    The transformation of Thanksgiving from a presidential proclamation to a cherished national tradition took place gradually over decades following the Civil War, shaped by changing social conditions, technological advances, and evolving American values. The period from Lincoln's death through the end of the 19th century saw Thanksgiving adapt to an America that was rapidly industrializing, urbanizing, and absorbing waves of new immigrants. Each president following Lincoln issued their own Thanksgiving proclamations, maintaining the last Thursday in November tradition. These proclamations reflected the changing concerns of the nation, from Reconstruction through the Gilded Age. President Grant's 1869 proclamation emphasized the completion of the transcontinental railroad, while President Cleveland's 1885 declaration focused on the growing prosperity of American industry. The standardization of Thanksgiving observance across the country was aided by the railroad system, which by the 1870s made travel for family gatherings increasingly feasible. Railroad companies promoted special "Thanksgiving excursion" fares, helping establish the tradition of traveling home for the holiday. An 1874 advertisement from the Pennsylvania Railroad promised, "Visit home for Thanksgiving - Special rates for family reunions." Urban celebrations began to develop their own distinct character. In New York City, the tradition of Thanksgiving Day parades began in the 1870s, originally organized by department stores like Macy's to mark the beginning of the Christmas shopping season. These celebrations merged Old World carnival traditions with American marketing innovation, creating spectacles that would become holiday fixtures. The late 19th century saw Thanksgiving increasingly intertwined with American sports culture. The tradition of Thanksgiving football games began at the collegiate level, with Yale and Princeton first meeting on Thanksgiving Day in 1876. By the 1890s, thousands of football games were being played across the country on Thanksgiving, from professional matches to informal neighborhood contests. The sport became so closely associated with the holiday that ministers complained about football replacing religious services as the day's primary focus. Immigration during this period significantly influenced Thanksgiving traditions. New arrivals adapted the holiday to include their own cultural elements while embracing its American significance. Jewish immigrants in New York created kosher Thanksgiving recipes, while Italian Americans incorporated pasta courses into their celebrations. Rather than diluting the holiday's meaning, these adaptations strengthened its role as a uniquely American celebration that could embrace diversity. The commercialization of Thanksgiving accelerated during the Gilded Age. By the 1880s, department stores had established "Thanksgiving windows" as elaborate as their Christmas displays. Turkey suppliers developed nationwide distribution networks, making the traditional bird available even in regions where it wasn't native. The first commercial canned cranberry sauce appeared in 1912, marking the beginning of convenience foods associated with the holiday. Women's magazines played a crucial role in standardizing Thanksgivin
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    22 mins
  • Par2- Thanksgiving During the Civil War"

    Par2- Thanksgiving During the Civil War"
    Nov 1 2024
    The bitter irony of celebrating thankfulness amid America's bloodiest conflict created some of the most poignant moments in Thanksgiving history. While Lincoln's 1863 proclamation officially nationalized the holiday, the story of how Thanksgiving was actually observed during the Civil War reveals much about both the resilience of the American spirit and the deep divisions the war created. In Union army camps, the attempt to celebrate Thanksgiving reflected both the determination and resourcefulness of soldiers far from home. Letters from the period paint vivid pictures of how troops tried to maintain this connection to civilian life. Captain John Henry Heiser of the 149th Pennsylvania Infantry wrote home in November 1863: "We managed to procure a turkey, though it cost us nearly a week's wages. The boys say it's worth it just to pretend we're home for a day." Military records show that Union commanders made considerable efforts to provide special Thanksgiving meals to their troops, recognizing the holiday's importance for morale. General Ulysses S. Grant ordered ships and supply wagons to carry thousands of turkeys to soldiers at the front. These shipments became military operations in themselves, with guards assigned to protect the precious cargo from Confederate raiders and hungry soldiers alike. The Confederate response to Lincoln's Thanksgiving proclamation was complex and often contradictory. While officially rejected as a Northern imposition, many Southern families, particularly in border states, continued their own thanksgiving traditions. Some Confederate units even held mock "Yankee Thanksgivings," though these often served as much for satire as celebration. Yet personal letters reveal that many Confederate soldiers longed for the familiar comfort of harvest celebrations, regardless of their political implications. Home-front celebrations during the war years took on new meanings and rituals. Northern households developed the tradition of the "empty chair," draped with black ribbon or evergreen boughs, representing family members away at war or lost in battle. This poignant custom spread through women's magazines and letters, becoming a powerful symbol of sacrifice and hope. Sarah Josepha Hale's Godey's Lady's Book provided detailed instructions for these memorials, suggesting prayers and readings to accompany them. The wartime economy dramatically affected Thanksgiving celebrations. In the North, despite general prosperity driven by war production, many items traditional to Thanksgiving became luxury goods. Turkey prices in New York City tripled between 1861 and 1864. Southern celebrations faced even greater challenges, as the Union blockade and war devastation limited food supplies. Confederate diarist Mary Chesnut wrote in 1864: "Our Thanksgiving table bore little resemblance to the feasts of previous years, but we found gratitude in having anything at all." The war years also saw the emergence of organized charitable Thanksgiving efforts. Women's relief organizations in major Northern cities organized massive Thanksgiving dinners for soldiers' families and the poor. The U.S. Sanitary Commission, a civilian organization supporting Union troops, coordinated Thanksgiving food shipments to military hospitals. These organized charitable efforts established a precedent for Thanksgiving philanthropy that continues today. In Washington, D.C., the contrast between official celebration and wartime reality was particularly stark. President Lincoln hosted formal Thanksgiving dinners at the White House while hospitals throughout the capital overflowed with wounded soldiers. Mary Todd Lincoln faced criticism for the lavishness of these celebrations, though records show she regularly sent portions of the White House feast to military hospitals. Different regions experienced wartime Thanksgiving in distinctly different ways. In New England, the traditional heart of Thanksgiving observance, the holiday maintained much of its traditional character, though with increased focus on patriotic themes. Church services included prayers for the Union cause, and ministers often drew parallels between contemporary struggles and the Pilgrims' hardships. The Border States presented a particularly complex picture. In places like Maryland, Kentucky, and Missouri, families often found themselves literally divided over Thanksgiving observance. Some households held split celebrations - one following Lincoln's proclaimed date, another maintaining state or local traditions. These divisions within families mirrored the larger national conflict, creating tensions that would persist long after the war ended. In occupied Southern territories, Thanksgiving became a symbol of Union authority. Union commanders sometimes organized public Thanksgiving celebrations as demonstrations of Northern cultural influence. These events often included food distributions to local poor, creating complicated dynamics between occupiers and occupied....
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    14 mins
  • Part 1.Sarah Josepha Hale:

    Part 1.Sarah Josepha Hale:
    Nov 1 2024
    Sarah Josepha Hale: The Woman Who Made Thanksgiving a National Holiday" - Part 1 of Our Thanksgiving Series On October 3, 1863, as the Civil War raged across a divided nation, President Abraham Lincoln took a moment to focus on gratitude. With the stroke of a pen, he established Thanksgiving as a national holiday, fulfilling a dream that one determined woman had pursued for nearly two decades. The story of how Thanksgiving became a unified American celebration weaves together persistence, politics, and the power of the written word. Sarah Josepha Hale, often remembered today as the author of "Mary Had a Little Lamb," was far more than a children's poet. As the influential editor of Godey's Lady's Book, the most widely circulated magazine in pre-Civil War America, she wielded considerable cultural and political influence. Beginning in 1846, she launched what would become a 17-year campaign to make Thanksgiving a national holiday, seeing it as a way to unite an increasingly fractured nation. Hale's vision of Thanksgiving was both romantic and pragmatic. In her editorials, she painted vivid pictures of families gathered around bountiful tables, sharing not just food but also stories and traditions. She published Thanksgiving recipes, poems, and stories, helping to create the cultural touchstones we now associate with the holiday. But beneath this domestic imagery lay a shrewd understanding of how shared traditions could bind a nation together. Her campaign began during the presidency of Zachary Taylor, with carefully crafted letters arguing for a unified celebration date. Different states celebrated Thanksgiving on different days, if they celebrated it at all. Southern states often ignored the holiday, viewing it as a Northern custom with Puritan roots. Hale saw this disparity as both a practical problem and a missed opportunity for national unity. Year after year, Hale penned editorials and letters, reaching out to governors, presidents, and other influential figures. Her letters to five successive presidents - Taylor, Fillmore, Pierce, Buchanan, and finally Lincoln - show a remarkable evolution in her argument. What began as a plea for cultural unity became, during the darkening days before the Civil War, an urgent call for national preservation. The responses she received illuminate the political complexities of the era. President Fillmore expressed interest but feared setting a precedent for federal involvement in religious matters. Pierce politely declined, viewing it as a state issue. Buchanan, preoccupied with mounting sectional tensions, never formally responded. But Hale persisted, adapting her arguments to the changing national mood. Her letters to Lincoln began in 1861, just as the Civil War was starting. She wrote, "You may have observed that, for some years past, there has been an increasing interest felt in our land to have the Thanksgiving held on the same day, in all the States; it now needs National recognition and authoritative fixation, only, to become permanently, an American custom and institution." The timing of Lincoln's eventual acceptance was significant. By autumn 1863, the tide of war had shifted slightly in the Union's favor. The Battle of Gettysburg had ended in Union victory, though at a devastating cost. The president, deeply affected by the war's mounting casualties, had recently visited the Gettysburg battlefield. His decision to embrace Thanksgiving came at a moment when the nation desperately needed healing and hope. The immediate implementation of Lincoln's proclamation revealed both the power and limitations of presidential authority in 1863. While Northern states quickly adopted the designated Thursday, compliance wasn't universal. Some states maintained their traditional dates alongside the national observance, creating a period of thanksgiving rather than a single day. This flexibility actually helped the holiday take root, allowing local traditions to gradually align with the national celebration. The first nationally recognized Thanksgiving under Lincoln's proclamation occurred on November 26, 1863. Despite the ongoing war, or perhaps because of it, the response was remarkable. Military camps held special meals, with commanders making extraordinary efforts to provide turkey and traditional fixings to their troops. Home-front celebrations often included empty chairs at tables, symbolizing family members away at war, a tradition that would continue long after the conflict ended. Sarah Josepha Hale's reaction to Lincoln's proclamation was one of quiet triumph. In her editorial for Godey's Lady's Book, she wrote, "Our national thanksgiving festival will now be observed on the same day throughout the land... The influence of these gatherings will be invaluable to our national union." She continued publishing Thanksgiving-themed content, but now focused on helping Americans develop shared traditions rather than arguing for the holiday's establishment. The proclamation's...
    Show more Show less
    10 mins

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