(no subject)

[charliebearnj]

Over the river, and through the wood,
To Grandfather's house we go;
the horse knows the way to carry the sleigh
through the white and drifted snow.

Over the river, and through the wood,
to Grandfather's house away!
We would not stop for doll or top,
for 'tis Thanksgiving Day.

Over the river, and through the wood-
oh, how the wind does blow!
It stings the toes and bites the nose
as over the ground we go.

Over the river, and through the wood-
and straight through the barnyard gate,
We seem to go extremely slow,
it is so hard to wait!

Over the river, and through the wood-
When Grandmother sees us come,
She will say, "O, dear, the children are here,
bring a pie for everyone."

Over the river, and through the wood-
now Grandmother's cap I spy!
Hurrah for the fun! Is the pudding done?
Hurrah for the pumpkin pie!

So what traditions for Thanksgiving are actually OLD and what are new traditions pretending to be old?
This poem dates from 1844, two decades before Abraham Lincoln declared national Thanksgiving Day...

- Going to see Grandfather and Grandmother
- Pumpkin Pie
- Snow
- Pudding

We would usually have Grandmother come to us, or, when she lived in Concord, MA with my uncle, we'd go to "Grandmother's House" (Note original says Grandfathers, but both of them were dead by the time I was more than a toddler.)

And.. this poem was written about Medford, Mass.  the town next to where I grew up.   In the 20th century we rarely had any snow, and never enough to drive a sleigh through.

Question:  What's your tradition on this year of no travel?