Which day should it be? His birth date is undisputed. His birthday coincides with the season of the apple harvest. A birth is a more positive day than a death. The birthday seems like a more logical day to celebrate. But,....
Celebrate today with an apple rich menu. Include fresh apples for snacks, and some applesauce or apple pie for dessert. And, make plans to plant an apple tree.
A Little Red Apple
A little red apple
Hung high in a tree.
I looked up at it,
And it looked down at me.
"Come down, please," I called.
And what do you suppose?
That little red apple
Dropped right on my nose!
Johnny Appleseed Day honors one of America's great legends. John Chapman (aka Johnny Appleseed) was born in Massachusetts on September 26, 1774 (this date is undisputed). John Chapman was among the American settlers who were captivated by the movement west across the continent. (The "West" was places like Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, and Illinois.) He was a nurseryman (was apprenticed in an orchard) and as Johnny Appleseed travelled west, he planted apple trees along the way, and sold trees to settlers (though he rarely accepted money and often donated any money he received). With every apple tree that was planted, the legend grew. John Chapman was a deeply religious person. He was known to preach during his travels. According to legend, Johny Appleseed led a simple life and wanted little.
The actual date of his death was not formally recorded and the date is disputed. It is believed that he died on March 11, 1845, from what was referred to as the "winter plague". Harper's New Monthly Magazine of November, 1871 (which is taken by many as the primary source of information about John Chapman) says he died in the summer of 1847.[8] The Fort Wayne Sentinel, however, printed his obituary on March 22, 1845, saying that he died on March 18.
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment