Q: Here is a link to a picture I'm asking about: http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/ggbain.10002 I'm just curious as it looks like Halloween but is specifically labeled as Thanksgiving.
A: In the early 1800's poor men would dress up in rags and "be mummers"-a group of rowdy guys knocking on rich homes and demanding food,money at Halloween,Thanksgiving and Christmas. Well to do people soon had the practice outlawed,but in some areas children still dressed up as hobos on Thanksgiving and went out begging. After Thanksgiving was made an official National holiday,the tradition died out completely. Thanks for an interesting question-most people have no idea what Thanksgiving masking is about.