Comments about ‘Thanksgiving myths’

Even stories exposing myths about thanksgiving propagate myths.

The first Thanksgiving in what became the United States was on December 4, 1619, by colonists of the Berkeley Plantation, in Virginia, who who declared that day to be observed "yearly and perpetually keept holy as a day of Thanksgiving to Almighty God." This was a year before the Pilgram arrived at Plymouth Rock.

Colonial and later state governors proclaimed days of "thanskgiving and prayer". As President, Washington, Adams, and Monroe each proclaimed two such days. Washington declared 26 November 1789 as a "day of thanksgiving and prayer" to celebrate the ratification of the Constitution.

Lincoln proclaimed four different days to be "days of thanksgiving and prayer", these included a Sunday in April 1862 (the Sunday after receiving the proclamation, which was signed on 10 April); Thursday, 6 August 1863; the last Thursday in November 1863; and the last Thursday in November 1864. Each proclamation set aside a specific data and said anything about this being something to observe annually.

Andrew Johnson, by proclamation set aside "the first Thursday in December" in 1865; Thursday, 29 November 1866; Thursday, 28 November 1867; and Thursday, 26 November 1868 each individually proclaimed as "a day for public praise, thanksgiving, and prayer to the almighty Creator and Divine Ruler of the Universe."

US Grant individually proclaimed 18 November 1869, 24 November 1870, 30 November 1871, 28 November 1872, 27 November 1873, 26 November 1874, 25 November 1875, and 30 November 1876. The last one reads in part: "I, Ulysses S. Grant, President of the United States, do recommend to the people of the United States to devote the 30th day of November next to the expression of their thanks and prayers to Almighty God, and, laying aside their daily avocations and all secular occupations, to assemble in their respective places of worship and observe such day as a day of thanksgiving and rest."

It became an annual tradition, but it was decided each year on what day it would be by a Presidential Proclamation. It wasn't until 1941 that Congress added Thanskgiving to the list of Federal Holidays.

Thank you Mike!

The Des News probably didn't bother to check the facts on this as I've also come upon some of the information you've described. Of Course, misleading the public by omission is a specialty of big city newspapers.