Thanksgiving: The Biography of an American Holiday (Revisiting New England)

In 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. This title presents the origins and ever-changing story of America's favorite holiday. In 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 original holiday before discussing its possible religious and cultural precedents. This classic Yankee holiday is examined in historical and contemporary detail that covers everything from proclamations, sermons, and local and regional traditions to family reunions, turkey dinners, and recipes. The changing face of the holiday 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. All these topics are examined, showing how a holiday's meaning shifts and morphs over historical periods. 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

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 Foreword: Thanksgiving in America Acknowledgments Introduction: A Thanksgiving Detective Story 1 New England’s Puritan Holy Days 2 The Traditional New England Thanksgiving 3 The Classic New England Thanksgiving Dinner 4 The Nation Embraces Thanksgiving, 1780–1880 5 Nineteenth-Century Holiday Imagery in Literature and Art 6 Enter the Pilgrims 7 Pilgrims Are for Kids: Thanksgiving in the Progressive Classroom 8 Imaging the Holiday 9 Parades, Patriotism, and Consumption 10 Consensus and Competition: The Postwar Thanksgiving 11 New Myths for Old—Thanksgiving under Siege 12 Thanksgiving Now, Then, and Forever Appendix 1 A Thanksgiving Poem by Henry Bliss Appendix 2 Some Early Thanksgiving Recipes Appendix 3 United American Indians of New England Press Release Notes Bibliography Index A thanksgiving detective story New England's Puritan holy days The traditional New England Thanksgiving The classic New England Thanksgiving dinner The nation embraces Thanksgiving, 1780/1880 Nineteenth-century holiday imagery in literature and art Enter the Pilgrims Pilgrims are for kids : Thanksgiving in the progressive classroom Imaging the holiday Parades, patriotism, and consumption Consensus and competition : the postwar Thanksgiving New myths for old; Thanksgiving under siege Thanksgiving now, then, and forever. In this [book, the author] sweeps away lingering myths and misconceptions to show how Thanksgiving was born and grew to be an essential part of our national spirit. -- Back cover