I have a very large extended family and every year on Thanksgiving we would all get together for a huge feast. I remember playing in my grandparents basement with my cousins while the adults had fun upstairs watching football, playing football, and preparing the meal. The women gossiped and shared stories in the kitchen, the men cheered on the team in the living room and then we would all stuff ourselves with delicious traditional foods at dinner. I miss those get togethers and am looking forward to when my children are grown up and bring their spouses and children to my home for a fun filled day.
Here is my favorite poem of Thanksgiving and the history behind it. This talented women also wrote books that I own and I highly recommend them for the modern reader. They are amazingly wise and modern in thinking and have some very good ideas for raising children.
The American Frugal Housewife
http://product.half.ebay.com/The-American-Frugal-Housewife_W0QQtgZinfoQQprZ555583
The Mothers Book
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She also wrote the first childrens magazine and a book just for girls.
"Over the River and through the Woods" is a Thanksgiving song by Lydia Maria Child. Written originally as a poem, it appeared in her Flowers for Children, volume 2, in 1844. The title of the poem is, "A Boy's Thanksgiving Day". It celebrates her childhood memories of visiting her Grandfather's House. Lydia Maria Child was a novelist, journalist, teacher, and wrote extensively about the need to eliminate slavery.
It is sometimes presented with lines about Christmas, rather than Thanksgiving. For instance, the line "Hurrah for Thanksgiving Day!" becomes "Hurrah for Christmas Day!". As a Christmas song, it has been recorded as "A Merry Christmas at Grandmother's".
Over the river, and through the wood,
To Grandfather's house we go;
The horse knows the way to carry the sleigh
through the white and drifted snow.
Over the river, and through the wood—
Oh, how the wind does blow!
It stings the toes and bites the nose
As over the ground we go.
Over the river, and through the wood,
To have a first-rate play.
Hear the bells ring, "Ting-a-ling-ding",
Hurrah for Thanksgiving Day!
Over the river, and through the wood
Trot fast, my dapple-gray!
Spring over the ground like a hunting-hound,
For this is Thanksgiving Day.
Over the river, and through the wood—
And straight through the barnyard gate,
We seem to go extremely slow,
It is so hard to wait!
Over the river, and through the wood—
Now Grandmother's cap I spy!
Hurrah for the fun! Is the pudding done?
Hurrah for the pumpkin pie!
