OVER THE RIVER AND THROUGH THE WOOD...HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

A BOY'S THANKSGIVING, by Lydia Maria Child (1844)

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,
to Grandfather's house away!
We would not stop for doll or top,
for 'tis Thanksgiving Day.

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
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-
when Grandmother sees us come,
She will say, "o, dear, the children are here,
bring a pie for every one."

Over the river, and through the wood-
now Grandmothers cap I spy!
Hurrah for the fun! Is the pudding done?
Hurrah for the pumpkin pie!

This song originally appeared as a poem written by Lydia Maria Child. The poem appeared in Flowers for Children, Vol. 2 in 1844.

HOW DID THANKSGIVING BECOME A NATIONAL HOLIDAY? (THE WRITER OF A POPLULAR CHILDREN'S VERSE HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH IT!)

We all know about the harvest feast in 1621, between Plymouth colonists and Wampanog Indians, which is acknowledged today as one of the first Thanksgiving celebrations in the colonies. But do you know when and how Thanksgiving came to be an annual National Holiday?

For more than two centuries, days of thanksgiving were celebrated by individual colonies and states. In 1827, noted magazine editor and prolific writer Sarah Josepha Hale (author, among countless other things, of the nursery rhyme “Mary Had a Little Lamb”) launched a campaign to establish Thanksgiving as a national holiday. For 36 years, she published numerous editorials and sent scores of letters to governors, senators, presidents and other politicians.


Abraham Lincoln finally heeded her request in 1863, at the height of the Civil War, in a proclamation entreating all Americans to ask God to “commend to his tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife” and to “heal the wounds of the nation.”

I think you'll enjoy reading Sarah Josepha Hale's, "Editor's Table," from Godey's Lady's Book, 1858:

OUR NATIONAL THANKSGIVING

"All the blessings of the fields,
All the stores the garden yields,
All the plenty summer pours,
Autumn's rich, o'erflowing stores,
Peace, prosperity and health,
Private bliss and public wealth,
Knowledge with its gladdening streams,
Pure religion's holier beams --
Lord, for these our souls shall raise
Grateful vows and solemn praise."

We are most happy to agree with the large majority of the governors of the different States -- as shown in their unanimity of action for several past years, and which, we hope, will this year be adopted by all -- that the LAST THURSDAY IN NOVEMBER shall be the DAY Of NATIONAL THANKSGIVING for the American people. Let this day, from this time forth, as long as our Banner of Stars floats on the breeze, be the grand THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY of our nation, when the noise and tumult of wordliness may be exchanged for the laugh of happy children, the glad greetings of family reunion, and the humble gratitude of the Christian heart. This truly American Festival falls, this year on the twenty fifth day of this month.


Let us consecrate the day to benevolence of action, by sending good gifts to the poor, and doing those deeds of charity that will, for one day, make every American home the place of plenty and of rejoicing. These seasons of refreshing are of inestimable advantage to the popular heart; and if rightly managed, will greatly aid and strengthen public harmony of feeling. Let the people of all the States and Territories sit down together to the "feast of fat things," and drink, in the sweet draught of joy and gratitude to the Divine giver of all our blessings, the pledge of renewed love to the Union, and to each other; and of peace and good-will to all men. Then the last Thursday in November will soon become the day of AMERICAN THANKSGIVING throughout the world.

(FDR later changed the date of Thanksgving permanently to the fourth Thursday in November - to read why, click here.)

ARE WE THERE, YET?

Having family in various places, we always seem travel during Thanksgiving and Christmas.  When our kids were little and we made the 2 and 1/2 hour drive on holidays, I tried to have good books in the car for the trip or to look at with Grandma and Grandpa after we arrived.  The kids would get so excited, it was nice to have something to help calm them down for a little quiet time in the middle of all the hustle and bustle!  Here are some fun holiday versions of books that I featured in a past post that will keep your kids busy "looking" and "spying":


I SPY CHRISTMAS, by Jean Marzollo, Walter Wick (4-8)


I SPY LITTLE CHRISTMAS, Jean Marzollow, Walter Wick (baby-preschool)


CAN YOU SEE WHAT I SEE?  THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS, Walter Wick (4-8)


LOOK A-LIKES CHRISTMAS by Joan Steiner (4-8)

N.C. WYETH'S PILGRIMS

N.C. Wyeth is renowned for his illustrations of children's classics like Treasure Island, Robin Hood, and Robinson Crusoe. The paintings used to illustrate PILGRIMS are from a series of brilliantly sumptuous murals commissioned by the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company in the late 1940's, which bring to life the carefully researched text by well known children's book author Robert San Souci. (ages 8-12)

Another beautifully illustrated book about Thanksgiving:
THE THANKSGIVING STORY by Alice Dalgliesh, pictures by Helen Sewell.  Five illustrated chapters for ages 6 and up.  The story follows three Pilgrim children--Giles, Constance, and Damaris Hopkins--as they experience a trip on the Mayflower, settling in New Plymouth, being afraid of but then befriending some Indians, and finally sharing a feast together, each thanking God in their own way.


As the Thanksgiving holiday draws closer, the anticipation of getting our homes ready to welcome family seems to pre-occupy all of us. At our house, even our kids got involved with scrubbing, cleaning, and polishing.  In my Christmas book recommendation for today, the same thing is happening with some animals who are waiting for "someone" (Mary and Joseph)...WHO IS COMING TO OUR HOUSE?  by Joseph Slate, illustrations by Ashley Wolfe, is a sweet book for 3-6 year olds.  I love the black-line borders around the illustrations.