After the first harvest, Governor
William Bradford proclaimed a day of thanksgiving and prayer to God. The food,
which was eaten outdoors, included corn, geese, turkeys, ducks, eel, clams,
leeks, plums, cod, bass, barley, venison and corn bread. The feast lasted 3 days.
Though the exact date is unknown, the feast clearly took place in late autumn.
In 1623, a period of drought was answered by colonists with a proclamation of
prayer and fasting. This prayer and fasting was changed to another thanksgiving
celebration when rains came during the prayers. Later that year, Governor Bradford proclaimed November 29 as a time for pilgrims to gather and "listen to ye pastor and render thanksgiving to ye Almighty God for all His blessings."
Throughout American history, there were many thanksgiving proclamations and
celebrations. In 1789
George Washington proclaimed a National Thanksgiving Day on the last Thursday in November, in honor of the new United States Constitution. Thomas Jefferson, the third president, later discontinued it, calling it "a kingly practice."
In 1863, Sarah Josepha Hale, the author of the poem "Mary Had a Little Lamb," convinced Abraham Lincoln to proclaim Thanksgiving a national holiday. For the date she chose the last Thursday in November because of Washington's proclamation. In 1941, it was officially changed to the fourth Thursday in November.
Since Abraham Lincoln's proclamation, it has been a custom that all presidents of the United States make Thanksgiving proclamations every year. One of George W. Bush's proclamations came just two months after the September 11 tragedy. He stated that In thankfulness and humility, we acknowledge, especially now, our dependence on One greater than ourselves.
Click here to read President Barack Obama's Proclamation from November 16, 2011.
All of the early Thanksgiving celebrations had one thing in common. The
thanksgiving was directed toward God. It did not matter that many had very hard
times. The people knew that God was their creator and provider and that all
good things ultimately came from Him. It is in this spirit that we bring you the following passages from God's Word:
Give thanks to the LORD, call on his name; make known among the nations what
he has done.Give thanks to the LORD, call on his name; make known among the nations what
he has done. Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
