“Turkeys know their names, come when you call, and are totally affectionate. They’re better than teenagers.”
— Elayne Boosler, Rolling Stone’s “First Lady of Standup Comedy”
This Thanksgiving will probably be different for most of us as some people will be able to gather with family and some will not. It could be different in ways we have not thought of, like more appreciating health, happiness, family and friends near or far. We have technology to connect; then there’s always a phone call, cards and letters. I could fill a book with all the information I’ve gleaned on Thanksgiving I didn’t know. I’ll start with Sarah Josepha Hale and finish with tidbits of trivia you may enjoy and perhaps share.
Mrs. Hale is known as the “Mother of Thanksgiving” and the author of “Mary Had a Little Lamb,” from her children’s poetry books. She authored over 50 novels and was an editor and contributor of the premier magazine “Godey’s Lady’s Book” for 40 years. Mrs. Hale was an activist for causes dear to her heart, including confirming a national Thanksgiving Day.
Prior to 1863, a time of thanksgiving was celebrated at random times in isolated locations, mostly the Northeast. For 17 years Mrs. Hale advocated to the magazine’s 150,000 subscribers as well as successive presidents for a common and united Thanksgiving Day. On Sept. 28, 1863, Mrs. Hale sent a letter to President Lincoln, “Excuse the liberty I have taken with profound respect … ” that would convince the president on Oct. 3 to establish the fourth Thursday of November as a national celebration for a “Day of Thanksgiving and Prayer to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the heavens.”
In 1926 President Calvin Coolidge received a live raccoon in a wooden crate as a Thanksgiving gift from a Mississippi resident purported to be a woman named Joyce from Nitta Yuma, or possibly a man from Peru, Mississippi. I was unable to confirm the town Peru. President Coolidge elected to keep the raccoon as a pet and named her Rebecca.
In 1939 President Franklin Roosevelt moved Thanksgiving up a week to extend Christmas celebrations during the Depression. The change was mostly unappreciated and referred to as “Franksgiving.” Only 23 of 48 states complied and in 1941 the designated day was returned to its original date.
In 1953 the Swanson Company overestimated the demand for turkey, leaving 260 tons of frozen turkey on railroad cars. Swanson’s Gerry Thomas immediately suggested meals in aluminum trays like airline service. The company quickly retrofitted and turned out “TV dinners” with turkey, cornbread dressing, gravy, peas and sweet potatoes, sold for 98 cents. In 1954 10 million dinners were sold.
In 1963 President John F. Kennedy received the annual turkey given by the country’s farmers and was quoted saying, “We’ll just let this one grow.” I have to wonder if this had something to do with the children.
In 1989 President George H.W. Bush was the first president to officially pardon the annual Thanksgiving turkey, saying, “Let me assure you, and this fine tom turkey, that he will not end up on anyone’s dinner table, not this guy — he’s granted a presidential pardon as of right now.”
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You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 33 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
