THANKSGIVING - The
Harvest Feast
By Mary Emma Allen
 Thanksgiving
has played an important role as a traditional harvest feast in the lives of
Americans since the days of the Pilgrims. At this time of year, when the
crops were gathered for winter, they gave thanks and acknowledged the many
rewards of their labors.
Harvest feasts are not new in the history of man; they've been held for
centuries in various parts of the world. Early in October, the ancient
Romans dedicated an annual harvest festival, or Cerelia, to Ceres, their
goddess of grains and harvests.
Plymouth Thanksgiving Best Known
Although some historians think that other colonists held feasts of
thanksgiving before the Pilgrims, most credit those Massachusetts settlers
with starting this celebration. More is known about the feast at Plymouth
Plantation. So the accepted version of the Thanksgiving story is that these
stalwart settlers began the tradition in the autumn of 1621.
To this harvest feast, the Pilgrims also gave religious meaning by holding
services and offering prayers of gratitude for their new homes, their
religious freedom, the friendly natives, and their crops. Though meager,
this harvest would furnish them with food for the approaching cold winter
months.
Thanksgiving Becomes a Tradition
This custom of an annual Thanksgiving feast was repeated year after year and
became a tradition throughout various colonies. As crops became more
diversified, Thanksgiving menus were more elaborate. Turkey remained the
traditional meat, but vegetables now included onions, turnips, white and
sweet potatoes. Desserts encompassed a range of pies from mince (first made
with dried cherries) to pumpkins, squash and apple to puddings of cranberry
and/or corn meal and dried plums.
Becomes An Official Holiday
With the encouragement of Sarah Josepha Hale, President Abraham Lincoln
declared Thanksgiving a national holiday. In 1941, an Act of Congress
established the fourth Thursday of November as an official holiday of
Thanksgiving.
(c) 2001 Mary Emma Allen
(Mary Emma Allen has been writing cooking columns for 30 years and has
compiled a family cookbook. She's currently compiling a cookbook/story book,
"Tales From a Country Kitchen." Visit her web site for more cooking
articles:
http://homepage.fcgnetworks.net/jetent/mea; e-mail: me.allen@juno.com)
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