Who Are We Thanking On Thanksgiving?
Thanksgiving is an uniquely American holiday held on the 4th Thursday of November each year. Thanksgiving is said to have started as a celebration of peace between the Pilgrims of Plymouth Colony in Massachusetts and the Indians and to thank God for the bounty they had in their first harvest of 1621. It was celebrated on and off after that time and a few Presidents including George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, and Theodore D. Roosevelt made specific declarations to recognize and eventually codify it into a national holiday.
Thanksgiving hasn't become commercialized like many of the others. It's a special American tradition. In researching the origins and history of Thanksgiving, I found that our founding father, George Washington dedicated this holiday as one to thank God. If you are looking for a wonderful family Thanksgiving tradition, I recommend reading this National Proclamation at every table on Thanksgiving Day. After all, shouldn't we be teaching our kids "Who are we thanking on Thanksgiving day?" Sadly, the answer to that question is often not acknowledged today. Read slowly, and enjoy what some of our founding fathers wrote...
On October 3,1789, George Washington issued, from New York, a National Day of Thanksgiving Proclamation:
By the President of the United States of America, a Proclamation.
Whereas it is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey his will, to be grateful for his benefits, and humbly to implore his protection and favor-- and whereas both Houses of Congress have by their joint Committee requested me to recommend to the People of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many signal favors of Almighty God especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness.
Now therefore I do recommend and assign Thursday the 26th day of November next to be devoted by the People of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being, who is the beneficent Author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be
-- That we may then all unite in rendering unto him our sincere and humble thanks
--for his kind care and protection of the People of this Country previous to their becoming a Nation
--for the signal and manifold mercies, and the favorable interpositions of his Providence which we experienced in the course and conclusion of the late war
--for the great degree of tranquility, union, and plenty, which we have since enjoyed
--for the peaceable and rational manner, in which we have been enabled to establish constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national One now lately instituted
--for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed; and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge; and in general for all the great and various favors which he hath been pleased to confer upon us.
and also that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech him to pardon our national and other transgressions
-- to enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually
--to render our national government a blessing to all the people, by constantly being a Government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed
--to protect and guide all Sovereigns and Nations (especially such as have shewn kindness unto us) and to bless them with good government, peace, and concord
--To promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the encrease [sic] of science among them and us
--and generally to grant unto all Mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as he alone knows to be best.
Given under my hand at the City of New York the third day of October in the year of our Lord 1789.
Go: Washington (1,)
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On October 3, 1863, President Abraham Lincoln issued a formal proclamation, passed by an Act of Congress, initiating the first annual National Day of Thanksgiving as follows:
No human counsel hath devised, nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the most high God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy...
I do, therefore, invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the heavens...[it is] announced in the Holy Scriptures and proven by all history, that those nations are blessed whose God is the Lord... It has seemed to me fit and proper that God should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged, as with one heart and one voice, by the whole American people. (2.)
The above is abbreviated. To see the full document, type, or copy and paste the following web address into your address bar: http://xr.com/j2j
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I thank God for my family, for our health, for the beautiful country and community we're privileged to live in, for the privilege of running my business and earning a living from it... There truly is an endless list of things to thank God for. Thank You God!
Like our country's forefathers, Lincoln and Washington, let's not be afraid to acknowledge and thank God for blessing our country for so many years and then once we've done that, thank and acknowledge those people in our lives who deserve our thanks; our parents, our close friends and co-workers, and anyone in our lives who we are blessed to have around. This is as great a time as any to let them know how we feel. Happy Thanksgiving everyone!
Notes:
1.) From The Writings of George Washington, Boston American Stationers Company, 1837, NY
2.) From A Compilation of Messages and Paper of the Presidents, 1789 - 1897)
3.) For a larger pilgrims picture
To read President Bush's Thanksgiving Proclamation made this November 15th, read here:
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