クリスチャン・サイエンス・モニターによる記事

The first Thanksgiving - CSMonitor.com
このクリスチャン・サイエンス・モニターの記事によると、『１６２１年のピルグリム・ファーザーズが行った感謝祭の神話』は根拠が二つしかありません。一つは、エドワード・ウィンスローが友人宛に書いた手紙（１６２１年付）、もう一つは、その２０年後にプリマスの知事（Governor）だった、ウィリアム・ブラッドフォードが書いた本。この二つです。しかも、そのブラッドフォードの書いた本はアメリカ革命の時に失われ、１８５０年頃までみつからなかった、というのです。

これが、Winslowの手紙にある１６２１年の感謝祭の描写全文。
http://members.aol.com/calebj/thanksgiving.html

Our corn [i.e. wheat] did prove well, and God be praised, we had a good increase of Indian corn, and our barley indifferent good, but our peas not worth the gathering, for we feared they were too late sown. They came up very well, and blossomed, but the sun parched them in the blossom. Our harvest being gotten in, our governor sent four men on fowling, that so we might after a special manner rejoice together after we had gathered the fruit of our labors. They four in one day killed as much fowl as, with a little help beside, served the company almost a week. At which time, amongst other recreations, we exercised our arms, many of the Indians coming amongst us, and among the rest their greatest king Massasoit, with some ninety men, whom for three days we entertained and feasted, and they went out and killed five deer, which they brought to the plantation and bestowed on our governor, and upon the captain and others. And although it be not always so plentiful as it was at this time with us, yet by the goodness of God, we are so far from want that we often wish you partakers of our plenty.

こちらが、ブラッドフォードの本の描写全文。
http://members.aol.com/calebj/thanksgiving.html

They began now to gather in the small harvest they had, and to fit up their houses and dwellings against winter, being all well recovered in health and strength and had all things in good plenty. For as some were thus employed in affairs abroad, others were exercising in fishing, about cod and bass and other fish, of which they took good store, of which every family had their portion. All the summer there was no want; and now began to come in store of fowl, as winter approached, of which this place did abound when they came first (but afterward decreased by degrees). And besides waterfowl there was great store of wild turkeys, of which they took many, besides venison, etc. Besides they had about a peck of meal a week to a person, or now since harvest, Indian corn to that proportion. Which made many afterwards write so largely of their plenty here to their friends in England, which were not feigned but true reports.

The first Thanksgiving - CSMonitor.com

But the 19th century had its own Martha Stewart, and it didn't take her long to turn New England fasting into national feasting. Sarah Josepha Hale, editor of the popular Godey's Lady's Book, stumbled upon Winslow's passage and refused to let the historic day fade from the minds - or tables - of Americans. This established trendsetter filled her magazine with recipes and editorials about Thanksgiving.

It was also about this time - in 1854, to be exact - that Bradford's history book of Plymouth Plantation resurfaced. The book increased interest in the Pilgrims, and Mrs. Hale and others latched onto the fact he mentioned that the colonists had killed wild turkeys during the autumn.

In her magazine Hale wrote appealing articles about roasted turkeys, savory stuffing, and pumpkin pies - all the foods that today's holiday meals are likely to contain.

In the process, she created holiday "traditions" that share few similarities with the original feast in 1621.

In 1858, Hale petitioned the president of the United States to declare Thanksgiving a national holiday. She wrote: "Let this day, from this time forth, as long as our Banner of Stars floats on the breeze, be the grand Thanksgiving holiday of our nation, when the noise and tumult of worldliness may be exchanged for the length of the laugh of happy children, the glad greetings of family reunion, and the humble gratitude of the Christian heart."

Five years later, Abraham Lincoln declared the last Thursday of November "as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens."

サラ・ジョセファ・ヘールという当時の女流雑誌の編集者がこのウィンスローが書いた手紙のことを知って、『伝統』を創造することになります。その時に、『ニュー・イングランド風の宗教的な断食』ではなくて、『家族で食事をする祝祭』という全く違ったものに変えています。ヘールは自分の雑誌で感謝祭メニューを上手に宣伝しました。それがうまくいって、今では、感謝祭というと、とにかく家族で七面鳥を食べる日ということになっています。

このピルグリム達の知事であった、ブラッドフォードの本が、１８５４年に都合よく再発見されたというのは、本当なのでしょうか。その本がそもそも捏造ではないのか、という気もするのですが、この感謝祭の成立にあたっては、あまりそういう史実としての根拠は関係がないようです。

サラ・ヘールは感謝祭を米国の祝日とするように大統領に働きかけて、前述のようにアブラハム・リンカーン大統領がその案を採用するのが、１８６３年になります。リンカーンがこのような仕組みを作ったのは、国内の政治的神話を統一するためです。つまり、『みな、（南北に分かれて戦争はしたが）もとをただせば移民ではないか』ということです。その神話の想像上の祖先として、ピルグリム・ファーザーズ（初期のマサチューセッツ州プリマスへの移民）は非常に好都合です。また、その再結集の具体的表現を家族の食事として行うことは、上手な方法です。

結局、ピルグリム・ファーザーズは、日本でいう明治以降の再生された神話と同じ機能を果たしているといえます。実際にアマテラスオオミカミの子孫であるかどうかではなくて、『そういうことにしよう』ということで、皆を納得させる。その話が本当かどうかは関係がなくて、それで皆が納得してくれればよいのです。

感謝祭の頃になると、ピルグリム・ファーザーズの神話が語られるところをみると、リンカーンの意図は明確に達成されていると言えます。