Books We Love Insider Blog: Happy Thanksgiving

Tuesday, November 20, 2018

Thanksgiving: How The Day Became a National Holiday in the USA

Dangerous Sanctuary by J. Q. Rose
Cozy Mystery
Find more mysteries by J.Q. Rose at BWL Publishing

Hello and welcome to the Books We Love Insiders Blog!
I'm J.Q. Rose.

Happy Thanksgiving!
Thursday, November 22 in the USA

The USA celebrates Thanksgiving Day on Thursday, November 22. Our nation has celebrated this traditional event since 1863 after Abraham Lincoln signed the declaration establishing the day as a national holiday. Before this, only Washington's Birthday and Independence Day were national holidays.

I have a question for your Thanksgiving Day guests and family. Who influenced the President to consider declaring a national Thanksgiving Day? The New England states celebrated Thanksgiving, but it was not a holiday in the rest of the country.

Writer Sarah J. Hale is credited for influencing President Lincoln's decision. She was a persistent woman, writing to five presidents asking for the holiday. She began her campaign in 1846, but it wasn't until 1863 when she finally convinced Honest Abe to support legislation to declare Thanksgiving a national holiday. The new national holiday was considered a day that could unify the nation after the horrendous Civil War had split the country.

Not only achieving recognition for Thanksgiving Day, but also Sarah's legacy is seen in her support of establishing historic sites and in her belief for higher education for women, establishing a college for women, Vassar College. The idea of educating women was not a popular idea in the mid-1850's. She also the editor of an influential magazine, Godey's Lady's Book.

And one more item for your trivia game on Thanksgiving Day. Sarah J. Hale wrote the nursery rhyme, "Mary's Lamb," which is now known as "Mary Had a Little Lamb."

For more information about Sarah Hale's legacy, click on the titles of the following articles:

The National Women's History Museum article on Sarah Josepha Hale (1788-1879)

Wikipedia article on Sarah Josepha Hale

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Can you think of more questions about Thanksgiving to ask in your Trivia game?

Please share in a comment below. Thanks. Oh, and don't forget to include the answer!!

Wishing you a

Happy Thanksgiving

from

J.Q. Rose

Click here to connect online with J. Q. Rose

Whether the story is fiction or non-fiction, J.Q. Rose is “focused on story.” She offers readers chills, giggles and quirky characters woven within the pages of her mystery novels, but truth in her memoir, Arranging a Dream. JQ presents workshops on creative writing and life storytelling and takes the podium to encourage attendees to take the time now to write their legacy stories. Blogging, photography, board games and travel are the things that keep her out of trouble. She and her husband spend winters in Florida and summers up north with their two daughters, two sons-in-law, four grandsons, one granddaughter, two grand dogs, four grand cats, and one great-grand bearded dragon.

Sunday, November 20, 2016

Recipe: Pumpkin Dump Cake for the Holidays, Happy Thanksgiving

Dangerous Sanctuary

Pastor Christine Hobbs never imagined she would be caring for a flock

that includes a pig, a kangaroo, and a murderer.

Romantic suspense

Hello and welcome to the Books We Love Insider Blog! I'm J.Q. Rose, author of the just-released romantic suspense, Dangerous Sanctuary.

The US Thanksgiving Day is this Thursday. Are you ready? In case you're looking for something different for your dessert table, I'm sharing a Pumpkin Dump Cake recipe with you. Not exactly an attractive name for a dessert, but it is delicious. (In fact my son-in-law who doesn't care for pumpkin pie loves this dish.) The recipe is easy and quick to put together.

Every time I take it to a potluck (covered dish dinner), I receive compliments and requests for the recipe. So this will be a perfect dish to take to holiday gatherings, as well as serve to your family and friends at home.

Pumpkin recipes are very appropriate for this time of year, but this dessert is so good, you’ll even make it in the spring!