Lincoln Thanksgiving : Poem In Your Post

Give thanks, all ye people, give thanks to the Lord,

Alleluias of freedom with joyful accord:

Let the East and the West, North and South roll along,

Sea, mountain and prairie, one thanksgiving song.

- from "The President's Hymn" written by William Augustus Muhlerburg

for President Abraham Lincoln, 1863

Did you know that Abraham Lincoln is responsible for popularizing what we now know as Thanksgiving as a national holiday?  Is there no aspect of American culture he didn't influence?

Before you head out to the acclaimed film "Lincoln", you simply must take a look at this fascinating post by Tori Avery of "The History Kitchen" for PBS Food. Not only will you learn loads about Lincoln and Thanksgiving, you might - like me - be convinced to scrap your plans for a store-bought pumpkin pie and embrace the pumpkin pudding Mary Todd Lincoln and her contemporaries likely created for their own Thanksgiving celebrations.

MFB, gratefully,
L

p.s. Muhlerberg's a fascinating character himself, so click the link above to learn a bit more about this famed education reformer turned Episcopal clergyman.