Teaching Male National Identity in Early America: Holidays, Part 7

As music and literature affected the lives of the young men, so did the holidays which they celebrated with their families. They represented another form of inculcating nationalism from an intrinsic perspective.  Holidays such as Independence Day and Thanksgiving resulted in the congregation of families to commemorate historical chapters in the growth of America.  These holidays came to symbolize the independence, virtue, and piety of the American family, and accordingly, the children were an important participant in the festivities. 

Although there were no parades or orations for Thanksgiving Day, it still held the veneration of importance to the American identity especially for boys, considering as they reached adulthood, they would become integral participants in the family celebration. 

Thanksgiving, wrote the Essex Register of Salem, MA., “seems to be set apart for friendly meetings and affectionate congratulations.  Children, and children’s children, on this favorite anniversary, are accustomed to assemble round the parental board, to interchange the pledges of mutual love…This practice is happily calculated to preserve and perpetuate family attachments.”  Historically, Thanksgiving Day did not initially include the proverbial Pilgrims and Indians. The Boston Gazette wrote that Thanksgiving, “was originally regarded with almost the same reverence as was shown for Sunday [worship].  Religious services were held in the churches and after the services the families gathered around the table at a bounteous dinner.”  Furthermore, Thanksgiving also represented a day of remembrance for the blessings which have been bestowed on the Early Republic.  This was especially true in the New England States as written Boston Gazette in 1810,

"Those who have never visited New England, are probably not aware of the festivity of this day; Conformable to the prescriptive habits of our forefathers, it has become , in the process of time, one of the most splendid, and universally diffused feasts upon the annuals of American History…The public worship of God, for the numerous favours, which, both as individuals and as a nation, we enjoy, is very proper preparation of the practical illustration of our happiness in the bosom of our families and friends." 

By 1818, Thanksgiving in Connecticut became a “Jubilee.  Labor is suspended. Absent children visit their parents-they attend Public Worship - and after offering tribute of thanks in the Father of Mercies for the innumerable blessings conferred, the close of the day is spent in social converse and innocent amusements,” according to Poulson’s American Daily Advertisor.  Interestingly, historian George William Douglas stated in his book, The American Book of Days that the subject of politics did become part of the Thanksgiving tradition through the sermons.  “It has frequently been the custom for clergymen to preach political sermons on Thanksgiving Day.  In the early years of the nineteenth century, their sermons were extremely partisan.”

Following the Revolutionary War, Independence Day fittingly became one of the most important patriotic holidays because of the direct and indirect participation of young boys. Historian Douglas wrote, “July 4th, the anniversary of the adoption of the declaration justifying and explaining itself out of “a recent respect for the opinions of mankind,” was celebrated with pomp and parade.”  These celebrations began almost immediately preceding the end of the War. The book Riot and Revelry in Early America stated, these celebrations included “songs, banners, floats, orations, and theatrical pageants dotted the calendar and linked local public spaces throughout the land to political and national events while simultaneously providing entertainment and patriotic education.”  Accordingly, boys learned from observance the importance of civic participation.

As early as 1788, the celebrations became more elaborate.  “Streets had been swept and trees trimmed over the line of march and all obstacles removed so that the parade might move more freely” and the “procession extended over a mile and a half and took it three hours to march over a route three miles long,” wrote historian George Douglas.   In Riot and Revelry in Early America, stated “the use of parades and public celebrations was a means of creating – and not just reflecting – national unity, obtaining support and overcoming divisions.”

Independence Day became an exemplary example of reiterated the American ideals annually. Historian Edward C. Skeen wrote in 1816 America Rising, “the symbolic spectacle of the Fourth of July celebrations around the country revealed much how the American saw themselves and their country as well as displaying their growing sense of community and nationalism.”  Evidence shows that the small town of East Argus, Maine, when viewed comparatively between 1810 and 1818, did not alter their celebratory rituals over the course of nearly a decade.  The East Argus newspaper reported, “The rising sun was announced by the discharge of a truly old gun of the Revolution.  At one o’clock a procession composed of Republican Citizens of Union and its vicinity was formed and being accompanied with a martial Band proceeded to the Meeting House.”  In 1818, the same town celebrated by “[beginning] with an accompaniment of young gentlemen and then a national salute was fired at 11 o’clock. At 1, a short by elegant and patriotic Address was delivered which was received by the company with loud and reiterated applause.”  Usually at the end of the parade were banquets which the general public attended.  These banquets culminated with the toasting of various individuals and feats of the Early Republic.

Toasts held importance for they exemplified the nationalistic views of the holiday.  Furthermore, historian Skeen wrote that,  “newspapers faithfully reprinted toasts and in some cases the orations delivered.  These words give another dimension to the thoughts and feelings behind the celebrations.” While the toasts varied in regional themes, they did not vary considerably in content as they related to individuals honored by them.  George Washington symbolized the importance of remembering the freedom granted from English tyranny.  This was apparent regionally. As reported in the Weekly Wanderer, citizens of Randolph, Vermont, in 1809 toasted, “George Washington – His advice to the United States, may it ever be remembered ‘United we stand, divided we fall’.”  While printed in the Boston Patriot, the same patriotism resounded with their toast, “The immortal Washington, and the soldiers of our revolution – who conquered their enemies, and submitted to law - May their example excite our imitation; their virtue be our inheritance.”

This continuing influence was visible in the repetition of toasts to America Fair repeated through the years.  Examples included from various newspapers:  Boston in 1809, “The American Fair – May they be the agreeable partners of republicans,” to East Argus, Maine in 1810, “The American fair – Whose smiles and charms pleas and unite all parties,” to New Sharon in 1811, “The America Fair – May they teach their children that America is a cradle of liberty, and all those that defend it will be counted amongst the wise virgins.”  Following the War of 1812, the toasts altered and became even more nationalist in nature.  The newspaper, Daily National Intelligencer reported Washington, DC’s toasts resonated national pride during their Independence Day toasts with, “The memory of Washington – May we ever hold sacred his farewell advice; union in support of our rights and independence,” this is followed by, “The Revolutionary Patriots – The pride and glory of our country.” 

 Part 8:  Teaching Male National Identity in Early America: What about Ezekiel Austin?