A Widow’s Cause: Bringing Thanksgiving to Victorian America by Jo-Ann Roberts

by

The holidays are upon us! I had barely dropped bags of Halloween candy into my shopping cart when I turned into the next aisle and was bombarded by a full-blown display of Christmas. The retail community had completely overlooked the day set aside for gratitude and giving thanks.

This revelation gave me pause, as I wondered how the celebration of Thanksgiving came about. Was it suggested by a group of civic-minded people or just one person? How was it decided to celebrate the day on the fourth Thursday in November?

So, like much of my research, down the rabbit hole I went. To my delight, I discovered once again it was a woman who led the campaign, giving us a day set to give thanks for the blessings and freedoms we enjoy today.

During most of the 19th century, Thanksgiving was not an official holiday. Admittedly, it had its roots in the New England states and was widely celebrated there and in the mid-West. The actual date of the holiday was left to individual states and territories. It could vary widely from September through December but is mostly celebrated in November after the harvest.
While the idea of celebrating a good harvest was an old one, it took a Victorian lady to give it its voice. Specifically, the editor of a highly popular magazine of the times, Godey’s Lady’s Book, Sarah Josepha Hale.

Suddenly finding herself a widow and single mother with children to support–including a brand-new baby–Sarah wrote a book, Northwood. Its success led to a job offer for the “editorship” of a new “ladies” magazine, turning Godey’s into one of the most important periodicals in 19th century America. Though it is now remembered primarily for its fashion plates, crafts, and household tidbits, it covered social issues as well.

Year after year, Godey’s Lady’s Book published the same plea. Each year the campaign brought new success. By 1851, 29 out of 31 states celebrated a day of Thanksgiving. However, not on the same day so she continued to insist the holiday be celebrated on the exact same day.

Having thoroughly thought it out, she suggested the last Thursday in November so that “the telegraph of human happiness would move every heart to gladness simultaneously.” To further her cause for a unified day of giving thanks, she pointed out that farm labor was done for the season, and the election cycle was over. Below is the original 1847 plea from Godey’s Lady’s Book.
OUR HOLIDAYS. —”We have but two that we can call entirely national. The New Year is a holiday to all the world, and Christmas to all Christians—but the “Fourth of July” and “Thanksgiving Day” can only be enjoyed by Americans. The annual observance of Thanksgiving Day was, to be sure, mostly confined to the New England States, till within a few years. We are glad to see that this good old puritan custom is becoming popular through the Union…Would that the next Thanksgiving might be observed in all the states on the same day. Then, though the members of the same family might be too far separated to meet around one festival board, they would have the gratification of knowing that all were enjoying the blessing of the day…”

Despite her claims, she had not achieved the ultimate endorsement; a proclamation from the President. In 1861, with civil war looming, she focused on national unity as her strongest selling point.

Finally, under these conditions and the stress of considerable loss of life, a devastated Southern economy, and public support for the holiday, President Abraham Lincoln endorsed and proclaimed, “a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelt in the heavens.” Furthermore, he stated, Americans should “fervently implore” blessings from the Almighty to “heal the wounds of the nations, and to restore it…to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquility and union.”

Successive presidents continued the tradition and proclaimed a yearly Thanksgiving at the end of every November.  Still not satisfied, Hale’s magazine urged Congress to recognize the holiday. Unfortunately, she didn’t live to see the Congressional Proclamation of the Thanksgiving story (which finally took place in 1941), but by the 1870’s Thanksgiving was already a part of America’s culture.

The national holiday has become just what Sarah Josepha Hale envisioned: a celebration of home and hearth and the blessings for which we are grateful.

 

***********************************************

Giveaway!

Two lucky winners will each receive an e-book edition of my upcoming release, “Ivy” Christmas Quilt Brides. Just leave a comment below telling me how you celebrate Thanksgiving in your home.

**********************************************

Upcoming Release

He was the town bully.
She was his target.
Has anything changed?
Years ago, Ivy Sutton was drawn to the new orphan boy in town. Unfortunately, she soon became the focus of Grady Walsh’s mischievous deeds in school.
Ivy is back home in Harmony, Kansas for good but is she willing and able to forgive the boy who made her childhood unbearable?
Grady Walsh lost his heart to the sweet girl the day she gave him a quilt. Now, as a well-liked and respected tradesman in Harmony, can he make up for the reckless actions of his youth? Or will another steal er away before they have a chance to discover a kind of love that might heal the pain from the past?

Author at JMV Creative Enterprise | jrobertsauthor@yahoo.com | Website |  + posts

Born and raised in western Massachusetts, Jo-Ann Roberts was fascinated by America’s Old West and always felt she was destined to travel on a wagon train following the Oregon Trail. With her love of history and reading, she began reading historical romance during high school and college. Victoria Holt, Jude Deveraux, and Roseanne Bittner were among her favorites. Influenced by her father, she fell in love with John Wayne, James Garner, and her all-time favorite, James Stewart and grew up watching Wagon Train, Bonanza and Rawhide.
A firm believer in HEA with a healthy dose of realism, Jo-Ann strives to give her readers a sweet historical romance while imparting carefully researched historical facts, personalities, and experiences relative to the time period. Her romances take her readers back to a simpler time to escape the stress of modern life by living in a small town where families and friends help one another find love and happiness.
When she isn’t creating believable plots and relatable heroes and heroines, Jo-Ann enjoys spending time with her husband, children and grandson. She also enjoys baking, quilting and eating way too much chocolate.
After 38 years in public education in Connecticut and Maryland, she’s now calls North Carolina home.

42 thoughts on “A Widow’s Cause: Bringing Thanksgiving to Victorian America by Jo-Ann Roberts”

  1. We usually have a low-key celebration with all the fixins’. Then my husband and the sons watch football and I watch Hallmark Channel.

    • Welcome, Denise. Our celebration is low-key as well. We usually go to our daughter’s home outside of D.C. On Black Friday we go into Washington to see a museum or a monument. Thanks for stopping by. Happy Thanksgiving.

  2. I will celebrate with my family this year, the first time in many. It always my job to make the dressing!

  3. We celebrate Thanksgiving with some of our children and grandchildren. We have some who live close, and 2 of my daughters and their families are with us, a son who lives with us, and we have a son and daughter who live in Virginia. Usually on or the other will be here. It is not unusual for there to be 15-20 people around our table. We have turkey, and the usual side dishes. We always have banana pudding and apple pie. This year, my husband and I are in Kenya and won’t return until 2 weeks before Thanksgiving so I have charged my 2 daughters to make the banana pudding and apple pie. We always listen to Christmas music during dinner because my husband doesn’t like us to listen to it earlier, and it is always a fun time with our family.

  4. Every year I make gratitude bags for our four grandkids. I put cozy winter stuff in the bags like a throw blanket, M&M treats, beanies, Advent calendar, pajamas, bath bombs, etc. They age from 7 to 13 years. It is fun. We always have a turkey dinner and if it isn’t too cold outside we will ride in our side-by-side through the woods and around the lakes. I love Thanksgiving. So important to reflect on the goodness of God in our lives.

    • Welcome, Kathy. What a great idea! I bet they can’t wait to open up their gratitude bags. Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday, celebrating family and gratitude without the craziness of presents. Happy Thankgsgiving.

  5. We usually have everyone over at one house for Thanksgiving. Lately it has been my daughter’s. She has little ones and it is easier.

    • Welcome, Debra. We handed over the Thanksgiving celebration to our daughter several years ago. We help with the food preparation. Now that she has a little one, we may have to shift our plans. Thanks for stopping by P&P. Happy Thanksgiving.

  6. We try to come together as a family each year with turkey, cornbread dressing, sweet potato casserole, mashed potatoes, gravy, strawberry salad, and of course several desserts. No matter the food, it is such a blessing to have our children and their spouses, our grandchildren and their spouses and now our great grandchild. God has been so good to us, and continues to be. We just thank Him for all He has done for us, most importantly sending His Only Begotten Son, Jesus, to take our sins upon Himself and die for us. Then He rose again that we might have eternal life with Him. Praise the Lord.

  7. I’m happy to say, we usually get together as a family, something we rarely do since my son and youngest grandson live in a different state. We have a big meal, laugh, talk, and enjoy the time together.

    • Welcome, Janice. Our children live in Virginia, but we try to get together several times a year. We usually spend Thanksgiving with our daughter, and Christmas with our son and his family. Thanks for stopping by P&P. Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family.

  8. We usually have just a meal here at home but this year, we will be spending Thanksgiving with my youngest sister and her family in Kansas. Our oldest sister passed away in September and I want to be with my youngest sister and her family. My brother won’t be able to o be there and we are praying for a miracle that he will soon be with us at holidays again.

    • Welcome, Barbara. Please accept my condolences on the loss of your sister. The first holiday without a loved one is always difficult. I’m glad to hear you will be other family members this year. Thanks for stopping by P&P. Happy Thanksgiving.

  9. Since most of our immediate family is gone, my brother and I usually go to a VFW to share our meal with other veterans. To me it is a time to be thankful for all the blessings of God I have in my life.

    • Welcome, Sharon. What a wonderful way to celebrate the Thanksgiving season! This is truly what giving thanks is all about, family, friendship, and honoring those who gave us the gift of freedom. Thanks for stopping by P&P. Happy Thanksgiving.

  12. I have thanksgiving at my house for the children and grandchildren that are able to come. I do the turkey, stuffing, gravy, and pies. The rest of the meal they bring.

    • Welcome, Karijean. What a wonderful way to celebrate Thanksgiving with three generations. Getting help from the family always makes it fun. Thanks for stopping by P&P. Happy Thanksgiving.

  13. Good morning , we celebrate Thanksgiving either at my house or at our daughter’s house, we usually have an early dinner with all the trimmings. We let our grandchildren lead us in prayer. Thank you so much for this information about Thanksgiving, I learned some things that I did not know. (not entering this ebook giveaway as I am not tech savvy at all but Thank you)

    • Welcome, Alicia. Having the children lead the family in prayer sets a wonderful foundation for celebrating the holiday. I’m glad you enjoyed the blog. Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family.

  14. My Thanksgiving Day is spent at my home that morning doing whatever (probably reading!) and then in the afternoon I go to a friend’s house to spend time with her family that I’ve been adopted into!!

    • Welcome, Trudy. Sharing the day with friends who have become family is extra special. We have a similar relationship with dear friends in Connecticut. Our friendship spans 50 years. We’ve shared births, deaths, anniversaries, 4th of July, and so many other gatherings. Happy Thanksgiving.

    • Welcome, Kim! Of all the holidays, Thanksgiving is my favorite for the very reasons you stated. Family, good food, and fellowship are ways to give thanks. Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family.

  17. For many years, when I was growing up, Thanksgiving was nearly as important as Christmas and we spent lots of these holidays together, at Grandma’s house. In spite of the fact, Grandma had a smaller house, we still crowded around her dining room table to celebrate. Once she was too old to prepare the feast, it passed to a daughter, or daughter-in-law, to prepare the majority of the main parts of the meal, while others brought something to augment it like dessert. There was plenty of food, and much joy and Thanksgiving for all.
    As time have changed, and people have separated to such distances, getting together does not happen very often. Sad to say, I miss seeing the family.

    • Welcome, Judy. Reading your answer mirrors my own past. We share the day with my aunt’s (my mother’s sister) family. Other family members would drop in, usually around dessert time, and stay into the evening. The times have changed with family living far apart. Thanks for stopping by P&P. Happy Thanksgiving.

  18. We celebrate Thanksgiving at our house or my oldest sons house. The granddaughters are always very excited by the holidays and it is heartwarming to watch them enjoy themselves eating and playing. Of course they always love dessert. We have much to be thankful for this year.
    I love the cover of your new book and it sounds like a story I would enjoy reading. I hope you have a blessed
    Thanksgiving!

    • Welcome, Sharon. Of all the holidays, Thanksgiving is my favorite for the very reasons you stated. Family, good food, and fellowship are ways to give thanks. Thanks for your kind words about the book. Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family.

  19. Usually, I celebrate Thanksgiving traditionally with my two younger sisters and their families with OH so much delicious ? food and it is always good to see them since I barely get to see them anymore

    • Welcome, Crystal. Isn’t it wonderful to share food and fun with our families? And there are so many new recipes on the web to try. I have a BIG list to try out for the holidays. Thanks for stopping by P&P. Happy Thanksgiving.

  20. I spend the day with my son and his family at his mother-in-law’s house. I always make the dressing/stuffing and deviled eggs.

    • Welcome, Bonnie. Of all the holidays, Thanksgiving is my favorite. Family, good food, and fellowship are ways to give thanks. Enjoy your dressing and deviled eggs. Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family.

Comments are closed.