Thanksgiving: The Biography of an American HolidayIn this, the first in-depth study of the most American of holidays, James Baker sweeps away lingering myths and misconceptions to show how this celebration day was born and grew to be an essential part of our national spirit. Thanksgiving: The Biography of an American Holiday opens with an overview of the popular mythos of the holiday before discussing its possible religious and cultural precedents. This classic Yankee holiday is examined in historical and contemporary detail that embraces everything from proclamations, sermons, and local and regional traditions to family reunions, turkey dinners, and recipes. Thanksgiving’s evolving face is illustrated with charming and often revealing period prints that chart our changing attitudes: the influence of Victorian sentiment in Thanksgiving’s development, Progressive utilitarianism, intellectual “debunking,” patriotic wartime reclamation, and 1960s-era protest. Thanksgiving remains controversial up to the present day, as Mayflower descendants, Native Americans, and commercial exploiters compete for the American public’s opinion of the holiday’s contemporary significance and its future status. This is an intelligent and illuminating introduction to a beloved holiday and a fascinating cultural history of America and Americana. |
Contents
ForewordThanksgiving in America | |
Acknowledgments | |
IntroductionA Thanksgiving Detective Story | |
1 | |
2 | |
3 | |
4 | |
5 | |
9 | |
10 | |
11 | |
12 | |
Appendix 1 | |
Appendix 2 | |
Appendix 3 | |
Notes | |
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Common terms and phrases
American holiday American Thanksgiving annual apples association autumn became began Berkeley Plantation Boston celebration Christmas church cider colonial commemoration contemporary costumes cranberry sauce culture custom Day of Mourning December declared decorations depicted earlier early England England Thanksgiving English event example Fast and Thanksgiving Fast days feast figure football Forefathers gathering God’s guests Harper’s Weekly harvest festival holiday’s iconic illustrations imagery images immigrants John land magazines Massachusetts Massasoit Mayflower Memorial Native Americans nineteenth century November November 28 observed origin past patriotic pies Pilgrim Fathers Pilgrim Society Pilgrim story Plimoth Plantation Plymouth colonists Plymouth Colony Plymouth Rock popular postcards prayer President proclamation protest published pumpkin Puritan religious representations Sarah Josepha Hale scenes season sentimental sermon significance social Standish symbolic Thanksgiving Day Thanksgiving dinner Thanksgiving holiday Thanksgiving myth Thanksgiving parade Thanksgiving story Thanksgiving’s theme Thursday tradition Victorian Wampanoag World Yankee York