Journal Notes

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Cowboy True’s Christmas Adventure.

Long before Halloween was the go-to holiday to be in costume, children in New York City would dress up on the final Thursday in November in what was known as Ragamuffin Day — which also happened to coincide with Thanksgiving.

As part of the Ragamuffin festivities, children, dressed in rags and masks (known as Thanksgiving Maskers), would go door-to-door and ask, “Anything for Thanksgiving?” Usually they would receive a treat of some sort: candy, fruit, or pennies.
The tradition stemmed from the late 1700s, when grown homeless men, during the holidays, would dress in women’s clothing and beg for food and money. In the late 1800s, the tradition evolved into annual event for children.

Ragamuffin Day ended in 1941, when President Roosevelt and Congress established Thanksgiving as a federal holiday. Many of the traditions associated with Ragamuffin Day found their way into Halloween.

To learn more about how Cowboy True celebrated the holidays read

Cowboy True’s Christmas Adventure.

All proceeds raised from the sale of the book go to benefit UC Davis Children’s Hospital.

Enter to win a copy of the children’s book Cowboy True’s Christmas Adventure.

Love cranberry sauce or hate it, but that sweet desert (or relish — depending on how you consume it) has become quite the Thanksgiving commodity. Although cranberries were very present in America and easy to access, the Pilgrims likely weren’t devouring the commodity. Why, you ask? Considering that sugar — a key component of cranberry sauce — was a luxury item when the first Thanksgiving unfolded, making the jam was expensive. It’s unclear when the sauce was even created, research indicates it was 1663 — decades after the supposed first Thanksgiving — that people began commenting about a sweet sauce that was made from cranberries. But if you’re thinking about modern-day canned cranberry, that’s actually brought to you by Ocean Spray, a company that began selling the product in the early 1900s.

For many, turkey and football go hand in hand. As much as Thanksgiving is about acknowledging what one has been given, it is also about tuning in — or even playing — one of the nation’s most popular sports. According to The Pro Football Hall of Fame, Thanksgiving Day football was once a tradition among colleges and high schools, but that practice has since subsided and the NFL has picked up the torch. The modern-day tradition, it seems, dates back to 1934, when the Detroit Lions decided to play on Thanksgiving Day.

The team’s owner, George A. Richards, knew scheduling a game on the holiday was risky, but he decided to do it anyway in an effort to bolster the team’s standing in Detroit. The Lions played the Chicago Bears in a duel that inevitably attracted 26,000 people to the University of Detroit Stadium, selling out two weeks before the game.

Hence, the football and Thanksgiving tradition was born. The Pro Football Hall of Fame noted that Detroit has had a game every year since, aside from a brief hiatus from 1939 to 1944. Just the same, Dallas Cowboys, too, have played every year on Thanksgiving since 1966, only missing two years in 1975 and 1977.

As mentioned, though, football games on Thanksgiving were unfolding prior to the Lions’ 1934 holiday face off. According to the Library of Congress, “The American Intercollegiate Football Association held its first championship game on Thanksgiving Day, 1876.” And it didn’t end there. In the 1890s, Yale and Princeton attracted tens of thousands of fans for championship games and many high schools followed suit. Eventually, they stopped the practice and the NFL simply continued it.

To learn more about how Cowboy True celebrated the holidays read

Cowboy True’s Christmas Adventure.

All proceeds raised from the sale of the book go to benefit UC Davis Children’s Hospital.

Enter to win a copy of the children’s book Cowboy True’s Christmas Adventure.

This bill of fare for Thanksgiving is from “Godey’s Lady’s magazine” and in the cookbook, “Civil War Recipes, Receipts from the Pages of Godey’s Lady Book”. “Godey’s Lady’s Book” was the most popular magazine for women in 19th century. This particular bill of fare is from the Civil War years of the magazine when it was at its zenith. At this time the editor was Sarah Josepha Hale.

Thanksgiving Day Meal

Roast Turkey with Cranberry Sauce

Turnips

Boiled Fowls with Celery Sauce

Salsify (Vegetable Oyster Cakes)

Boiled Ham

Winter Squash (Hot) Cole-Slaw

Stewed Goose

Sweet Potato Pudding Pumpkin Pudding

Baked Lemon Pudding (Souffle)

To learn more about how Cowboy True celebrated the holidays read

Cowboy True’s Christmas Adventure.

All proceeds raised from the sale of the book go to benefit UC Davis Children’s Hospital.

Enter to win a copy of the children’s book Cowboy True’s Christmas Adventure.

There was no recorded menu for this most famous of all American dinners. Pilgrim Edward Winslow recorded in detail in his journal the types of foods present, but not how they were cooked and served in which order. Indeed, few of us today would recognize the Pilgrim’s original meal as a traditional Thanksgiving dinner. While turkey was on the table, it was not quite the commanding centerpiece we know today. Lobsters, venison, waterfowl, small game, cod, clams and oysters were more plentiful and better suited for feeding a large crowd. Stuffing birds with specially prepared breading was practiced in Europe from Medieval days forward.

There was no apple pie, fine white bread, or creamed pearl onions. Why? Old world fruits, vegetables, and grains needed to planted and mature. Our Pilgrim mothers substituted squash, maize meal, corn, beans, and local berries out of necessity rather than culinary intrigue. Mashed potatoes? Technically possible but socially unlikely. These New World tubers were transported to North America via Europe. In the Pilgrim’s era potatoes were regarded as barely suitable for animals. It was not until the great famines of the 18th century that potatoes were consumed by humans on a regular basis. Recipes proliferated. Mashed potatoes, enriched with butter and cream became the staple of the laboring classes.

If there is one true thread in this culinary web it may be the American cranberry. This tart, versatile gift provided balance to meat (a la pork and applesauce, ham and pineapple), filling for pie and flavor for cakes. It also, unbeknownst to the Pilgrims, much needed Vitamin C. Nuts also played a special role, as they were associated from ancient times forward with long life, prosperity, and sharing one’s bounty. When dinner was finished, the first Thanksgiving peacefully retreated into the pages of history.

To learn more about how Cowboy True celebrated the holidays read

Cowboy True’s Christmas Adventure.

All proceeds raised from the sale of the book go to benefit UC Davis Children’s Hospital.

Take a chance.  Enter to win a copy of the children’s book

Cowboy True’s Christmas Adventure.

It seems there were a number of children stranding in Kansas in the later part of 1869, for reasons unknown. As the holidays approached many of those children placed advertisements in local papers seeking a place where they could go to spend Thanksgiving or Christmas. The November 17, 1869, edition of the Lawrence Republican Journal featured an ad from a young man hoping to be taken in by a family not only for a very important now, but for always.

“A Home – A home for the winter wanted by an orphan fourteen- years-old. He is of pleasing appearance: a stranger in this city. Apply at the Providence Association room between 9 a.m. and 12 a.m.. It would be nice to have Thanksgiving dinner with a real family. Perhaps if all goes well, I could stay forever. I have no one.”

To learn more about how Cowboy True celebrated the holidays read

Cowboy True’s Christmas Adventure.

All proceeds raised from the sale of the book go to benefit UC Davis Children’s Hospital.

Enter to win a copy of the children’s book

Cowboy True’s Christmas Adventure.

According to the November 24, 1927 edition of the Pella Iowa Chronicle, Americans should be more concerned about how to digest their Thanksgiving dinner and there’s only one item that can help do that.

“As overstuffed furniture grows in popularity, overeating retires to the limbo of things that are not done. Discomfort, after dinner, somnolence and overweight are simply not to be tolerated. The problem to be solved just now is how to maintain Thanksgiving

traditions and at the same time guard against the sins end dangers of eating too much. More than any one food, Hawaiian pineapple is capable of leavening the solidity of a rich holiday meal as it can suitably appear in any course. It is a favorite flavor, it stimulates appetite, and aids in digestion. For illustrative purposes let us consider the usual Thanksgiving dinner menu.

Fish or Fruit Cocktail

Soup

Celery Rolls Olives

Apple Cider

Mashed Potato Creamed Turnip

Candied Sweet Potato

Boiled Onions

Roast Turkey Chestnut Stuffing

Cranberry Sauce

Salted Nuts Salads Crackers

Pumpkin Pie Mince Pie

Cheese

Fruits and Nuts

Coffee

Mints

This menu more or less represents the standard home Thanksgiving dinner. Recognizing that one family may omit the cocktail or the soup or both, that other vegetables may replace the old standbys, that a salad may not be served, the above menu is not an exaggeration of American gastronomy.”

To learn more about how Cowboy True celebrated the holidays read

Cowboy True’s Christmas Adventure.

All proceeds raised from the sale of the book go to benefit UC Davis Children’s Hospital.

Giveaway! Enter to win a copy of the children’s book

Cowboy True’s Christmas Adventure.

Games were an integral part of the festivities at the first Thanksgiving celebration in 1621. The revelers had to do something while waiting for dinner. One of the games was the Cranberry Contest. Each player was given a needle with a long, coarse thread, a large bowl of cranberries, (raw of course) was provided and at the signal the players threaded as many cranberries as they could in three minutes. The winner presented the cranberry necklace and a kiss to the person of his or hers choice.

The Corn Game involved five ears of dried corn, symbolic of the five grains of corn said to be the daily ration of the pilgrims during their second disastrous winter. In the game, the five ears of corn were hidden around the house. The five people raced to be the first to strip the kernels from their corn.

For the pumpkin pie race, contestants lined up with small pumpkins, and rolled them to the finish line with a wooden spoon. Pumpkin pie had yet to be invented.

To learn more about how Cowboy True celebrated the holidays read

Cowboy True’s Christmas Adventure.

All proceeds raised from the sale of the book go to benefit UC Davis Children’s Hospital.

Time to enter to win a copy of the children’s book Cowboy True’s Christmas Adventure.

A woman is credited with launching a successful campaign to have thanksgiving declared a national holiday. She was Sara Josepha Hale, editor of a lady’s magazine which was the most widely read periodical of her time.

Mrs. Hale wrote letters to influential people in every walk of life, including public officials, urging a national Thanksgiving Day observation. In 1858, she stepped up her efforts in hopes that such a day would help avert civil war. She persisted, and finally, in 1863, President Lincoln issued a national Thanksgiving Day proclamation. Every President since then have done the same and so have the Governors of all the states.

To learn more about how Cowboy True celebrated the holidays read

Cowboy True’s Christmas Adventure.

All proceeds raised from the sale of the book go to benefit

UC Davis Children’s Hospital.

Enter to win a copy of the children’s book

Cowboy True’s Christmas Adventure.

The following Thanksgiving poem was written by a rancher’s wife in Pinedale, Wyoming in 1905.

Thanks be to Thee, 0 God ! Not that Thou set the darkened sky with light. Of countless stars, framed in solemnity — But that some soul who suffers in the night. Sees one star through the window’s little pane. And, by that gleam of hope, first prays to Thee. Thanks be to Thee, O God ! For throbbing music which the world’s voice thrills;

But most for melody which sings, alone. The bird in deepest wood-—or song that stills. A child to sleep, far from the grand refrain

Of Fame’s great chorus, chanting tunes well known. Thanks be to Thee, O God ! For wondrous beauty which Thou gave the earth,

But most for loveliness in baron sod; A green spot in the parched grass—the birth. Of some pure, saintly life not lived in vain. In haunts of wickedness which know not God. Thanks be to Thee, O God !

For Autumn harvest men have toiled to reap; For love, for home, for laughter through our tears, But most of all for seeds which, in the sleep Of Winter, wait for sun and Spring-time rain, holding potential growth for coming years.

To learn more about how Cowboy True celebrated the holidays read

Cowboy True’s Christmas Adventure.

All proceeds raised from the sale of the book go to benefit UC Davis Children’s Hospital.

Win a book for the holidays. Enter to win a copy of the children’s book

Cowboy True’s Christmas Adventure.

A thanksgiving proclamation from 1855. WHEREAS, The People of the State of California have, during the past year, been significantly blessed with health, abundant harvests, and all the elements of true happiness and substantial prosperity. AND WHEREAS, It is the duty of a people thus blessed with the protecting care of Almighty God, in an appropriate manner to address devout gratitude, thanksgiving and prayer to the Great Ruler of the Universe, for the manifold blessings He has during the year been pleased to bestow. Now, therefore, I JOHN BIGLER, Governor of the State of California, do hereby appoint and set apart, THURSDAY, THE 29th DAY OF NOV. A. D. 1855, as a day of thanksgiving and prayer to the Almighty God, and all good citizens of the State are hereby requested to observe the same as such. Witness my hand and the Great Seal of the State, at the City of Sacramento this the 5th day of November, A. D 1855. JOHN BIGLER.

To learn more about how Cowboy True celebrated the holidays read

Cowboy True’s Christmas Adventure.

All proceeds raised from the sale of the book go to benefit

UC Davis Children’s Hospital.