Re George's quip about American vs. Canadian thanksgiving ...
Thanksgiving is, of course, a Calvinist ecclesiastical feast, which no
doubt originated in the Pilgrim fathers' stay in the Netherlands, shortly
prior to their venture to the New World. The hymn "We gather together" is
a direct translation of a Dutch hymn, found in Valerius' Gedenkklank
("Wilt heden nu treden". The melody is that of an
erotic love song, "Wilder dan wild, wie zal mij temmen".)
For the Dutch church service of Thanksgiving (Dankdag voor het gewas), two
dates are current: the North celebrates the last wednesday in October,
the South (i.e. Zeeland) celebrates the last wednesday in November.
Good protestants also have a "Biddag voor het gewas" in Spring (Prayer for
a good harvest, known also as "Wasdag voor het gebit; this is an inside
joke for Dutch subscribers :) ). Perhaps this tradition should
be started as a complimentary to Thanksgiving in the Americas too ?
:)
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Frans van Liere
Department of History
College of Charleston 0 Bee Street
Charleston SC 29424 Charleston SC 29403
tel. (803) 953-1354 (803) 723-4051
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