THANKSGIVING DAY AND CHRISTMAS; Wm. and Mary Qrtly., Vol. 23, No. 3, 1915


				William and Mary College

			    Quarterly Historical Magazine


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	Vol. XXIII		JANUARY, 1915				No. 3
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			THANKSGIVING DAY AND CHRISTMAS

	     These are the two great festival days of the United States.
	The one is said to be a Puritan institution and the other the
	favored day of the cavaliers.  But as a matter of fact, the cava-
	lier influence has impressed itself upon both days far more than
	the Puritan.

	     As to Thanksgiving Day, while its general recognition
	throughout the United States may be conceded to Puritan influ-
	ences, the custom of an annual thanksgiving was not confined
	to New England.  Days were frequently set apart in the history
	of Virginia as days of thanksgiving and prayer.  Thus, after the
	Indian massacre of 1622, the 22nd of March was consecrated an-
	nualy to this observance, and when the Second Massacre occurred
	in 1644, the same character was assigned by legislative act to the
	18th of April of each year.  Frequently afterwards, both in the
	colonial history and the history of the State, special days were
	designated as days of thanksgiving and prayer.

	     But the severe aspect of such days, even in Puritan New Eng-
	land, has been almost entirely lost.  Thanksgiving has become
	a day of pleasure and rejoicing. a day given up to picincs and
	football - far more than to prayer and religious service.

	     Christmas, the greatest of all holidays, was absolutely ignored
	by the early Puritans, but it now reigns supreme even in New
	Haven, the Puritan stronghold.  No one thinks of an "eve" to
	Thanksgiving day, but "Christmas Eve" is second only to Christ-
	mas Day.