Over the River and through the Woods

Over the River and through the Woods by Lydia Maria Child is one of the few Thanksgiving songs I know of. Sometimes people make it into a Christmas song by changing a couple of words, but it was written for Turkey Day.

Thanksgiving was never a big deal in my house growing up...the holiday was more of a Christmas pre-start, as my mom decorated anything that didn't move. After I became a vegetarian about twenty-five years ago the turkey part certainly lost its luster, and I never was a stuff-until-you-drop kind of gal. Unless you're talking about Skittles, but that's another story.

I love this song because it is so very Americana: the food, seeing family during the holidays, snow, and enjoying the great outdoors with a cozy interior just around the corner.

Although my Thanksgiving in many ways is not traditional, I do use this holiday to consider all of my blessings. When many in the world don't have enough to eat or drink and worry about their safety, I have the luxury of being able to write fiction. I will never, ever take that for granted.

Have a good one!!

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—
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,
To have a first-rate play.
Hear the bells ring, "Ting-a-ling-ding",
Hurrah for Thanksgiving Day!

Over the river, and through the wood
Trot fast, my dapple-gray!
Spring over the ground like a hunting-hound,
For this is Thanksgiving Day.

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—
Now Grandmother's cap I spy!
Hurrah for the fun! Is the pudding done?
Hurrah for the pumpkin pie!