THE GODMOTHER OF THANKSGIVING

THE GODMOTHER OF THANKSGIVING

Written by Peter Boykin on November 23, 2022

THE GODMOTHER OF THANKSGIVING

Shared By Peter Boykin – American Political Commentator / Citizen Journalist

While Presidents as far back as George Washington issued proclamations of thanksgiving, Thanksgiving wasn’t always a national holiday.

But one woman made it her life’s duty to change that…

Sarah Josepha Hale was a widowed mother of five who supported her family by writing poems and novels, and eventually became a successful magazine editor – you may know her best for her poem “Mary had a little lamb.”

Hale often argued that the United States needed a second national holiday to stand beside Independence Day.

She considered July 4 a celebration of “civil freedom”, and considered Thanksgiving a day to celebrate family and faith in God.

She once wrote:

“It is a festival which will never become obsolete, for it cherishes the best affections of the heart—the social and domestic ties. It calls together the dispersed members of the family circle, and brings plenty, joy and gladness.”

Finally in 1863 Hale wrote directly to President Abraham Lincoln. We don’t know for sure if it was because of Hale’s letter, but just days later, Lincoln proclaimed the last Thursday in November as national Thanksgiving Day.

Part of Lincoln’s proclamation read:

“With one heart and one voice by the whole American People. I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens.”

Thank you

Sarah Josepha Hale

and Thank You

President Abraham Lincoln

For our Thanksgiving

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