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ThanksGiving
History |
Though it was not
known as Thanksgiving at the time it was celebrated, what we
recognize as the
first Thanksgiving feast was celebrated in 1621 by the pilgrims
who sailed from Plymouth colony along with about 90 Wampanoag
Indians. Earlier the Pilgrims had to bear through a devastating
winter which killed almost half of their friends and family.
Without the help of the Indians, all Pilgrims would have
perished.
Next year, after a fruitful harvest, Governor William Bradford
proclaimed a day of thanksgiving and prayer to God. The food,
which was eaten outdoors, included corn, geese, turkeys, ducks,
eplums, cod, bass, barley, venisson and corn bread. It is
assumed that the feast took place in late autumn.
In 1623, a period of drought was answered by colonists with a
proclamation of prayer and fasting. 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."
Many thanksgiving proclamations and celebrations were observed
through the ages. In 1789 George Washington proclaimed a
National Thanksgiving Day on the last Thursday in November, in
honor of the new United States Constitution.
In 1863, Abraham Lincoln proclaimed Thanksgiving a national
holiday thanks to the untiring effort of
Sarah Josepha Hale,
an editor in Boston. 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.
Read the complete details of Thanksgiving history
here. |
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