Over the River and Through the Wood

A Thanksgiving poem by Lydia Maria Child, originally titled "The New-England Boy's Song about Thanksgiving Day" and published in 1844 in her collection "Flowers for Children, Volume 2." Child drew inspiration from her own childhood memories of sleigh rides to her grandfather's house in Medford, Massachusetts. The poem vividly describes a child's sleigh ride through a snowy landscape, evoking themes of family, festive meals, and the warmth of holiday gatherings. It was later set to music by an unknown composer and, over time, some lyrics were occasionally altered to refer to "Grandmother's house" or "Christmas Day," making it often sung as a Christmas carol despite its original Thanksgiving context. Child (1802-1880) was also a prominent abolitionist, women's rights activist, and journalist.