The earliest Thanksgiving holiday in the United States goes back to 1619, in what is now called the Commonwealth of Virginia. Thirty-eight English settlers aboard the ship Margaret arrived by way of the James River at Berkeley Hundred in Charles City County, Virginia on December 4, 1619. The landing was followed by a religious celebration, as specified by the group's charter from the London Company. The charter declared, "that the day of our ship’s arrival at the place assigned for plantation in the land of Virginia shall be yearly and perpetually kept holy as a day of thanksgiving to Almighty God." Since the mid-20th century, that original celebration has been commemorated there annually at the ancestral home of the Harrison Family known as the Berkeley Plantation.
The more familiar Thanksgiving precedent is traced to the Pilgrims and Puritans who emigrated from England in the 1620s and 1630s. They brought their tradition of Days of Fasting and Days of Thanksgiving with them to New England. The 1621 Plymouth, Massachusetts thanksgiving was prompted by a good harvest. The Pilgrims celebrated this with the Wampanoags, a tribe of Native Americans who, along with the last surviving Patuxet, had helped them get through the previous winter by giving them food in that time of scarcity, in exchange for an alliance and protection against the rival Narragansett tribe.
Thanksgiving in the United States has been observed on differing dates throughout its history. From the time of the Founding Fathers until the time of Lincoln, the date of observance varied from state to state. The final Thursday in November had become the customary date in most U.S. states by the beginning of the 19th century, coinciding with, and eventually superseding the holiday of Evacuation Day, which commemorated the day the British exited the United States after the Revolutionary War. Modern Thanksgiving was proclaimed for all states in 1863 by Abraham Lincoln. Influenced by Sarah Josepha Hale, who wrote letters to politicians for approximately 40 years advocating an official holiday, Lincoln set a National Thanksgiving by proclamation for the final Thursday in November. His proclamation said, "with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience. fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty hand to heal the wounds of the nation..." Because of the ongoing Civil War, a nationwide Thanksgiving celebration was not realized until reconstruction was completed in the 1870s.
On October 31, 1939, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed a presidential proclamation changing the holiday to the next to last Thursday in November in hopes of boosting the economy. The earlier date created an extra seven days for Christmas shopping. December 26, 1941, Roosevelt signed a joint resolution of Congress changing the official national Thanksgiving Day to the fourth Thursday in November starting in 1942.
Traditionally, Thanksgiving has been a celebration of the blessings of the year, including the harvest, but these days it is common for Americans to share a family meal, attend church services, and view special sporting events. In addition, Thanksgiving is celebrated in public places with parades such as Macy's Thanksgiving Parade in New York City. These celebrations kick off what most Americans call the "Holiday Season". The first day after Thanksgiving Day—Black Friday—marks the start of the Christmas shopping season. – Thanksgiving facts courtesy of Wikipedia.
We have much to be grateful for this holiday season. Our political environment appears to be improving, the economy may have stabilized, the elections are over for a while, and children are back at school. All things considered; we do seem to be approaching normalcy. We still have Covid to deal with as well as other viruses we have not seen for some time because of the shut down and mask wearing.
UPCOMING EVENTS IN THE VILLAGE:
Saturday, November 26th is Small Business Saturday in Corrales. Please support our Corrales businesses by shopping local!
Sunday, November 27th from 1pm-3pm is the Ride-in Round Up event sponsored by Corrales Equestrian Committee, CHAMP and MainStreet at Top Form Arena. Horses in costumes, Corrales Fire Department’s toy & food drive, refreshments & Santa Claus!
December 2nd – December 4th – 34th Annual Winter Craft Show at the Historic Old San Ysidro Church from 10am-4pm. Free Admission & Parking. This is a great opportunity to do some local holiday shopping!
Saturday, December 3rd - Corrales Starlight Parade from 5:30pm – 7:00pm. The parade starts at Wagner’s Farm and ends at Double S Road. Decorated vehicles are welcome, and participants need to be at Wagner’s no later than 4:30pm. After the parade, the fun continues with the Children’s Christmas Party at 500 Jones Road with hot cider, cookies, treats, a bonfire, carolers, food & toy drive and much more!
The Corrales Art Center and Corrales MainStreet are sponsoring a “Student Holiday Art Show & Contest” for all Corrales residents 18 years old and younger. CASH prizes will be awarded in multiple categories. What a great activity for the kids to do while they are home, for their Thanksgiving break! The Artwork is being accepted NOW at the Village Administration Office through December 1st. For rules, information, and applications.
Corrales’ Holly Daze Collection Online auction brought to you by Corrales MainStreet and The Corrales Art Center begins November 27ththrough December 11thonline only at: https://visitcorrales.com/
The Corrales fire department’s food and present drive is up and running and ends 12/21/2022. Each year with your help the fire department is able to help families in need throughout the year and during the holidays. They provide not only holiday meals, but food to assist families when children are home more from school and energy costs increase due to weather. Families get needed items such as clothing and shoes as well as gifts. The Giving Tree is set up at 4324 Corrales Road, (Village Hall) food, monetary or gift card donations can be taken to the fire station at 4920 Corrales Road. You can also call or email Commander Tanya Lattin at: 505-702-4182, Tlattin [at] corrales-nm.org () if you want more information or a child’s gift information. Checks should be made out to Kiwanis Club or Corrales Foundation with fire dept drive in the memo.
Free home Covid test kits are available at the village administration office and the Corrales Fire Department. It is recommended that you test yourself before visiting others and have others test themselves before visiting you during the holidays.
The Village offices will close at noon on 11/23 and reopen on 11/28 at 8:00am
Get your covid vaccinations and boosters and flu shots, wear your masks in crowds, especially while shopping, wash your hands frequently and enjoy the holiday season. Stay safe. Stay warm. Stay healthy.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Jim Fahey,
Corrales Mayor
