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The Pilgrims’ first recorded religious
day of thanksgiving was held in 1623. Plymouth had been stricken
with a severe drought. "Upon which," said William Bradford, "they
set apart a solemn day of humiliation, to seek the Lord by humble and fervent prayer, in
this great distress." That same evening it began "to rain with such sweet
and gentle showers as gave them cause of rejoicing and blessing God… For which mercy,
in time convenient, they also set apart a day of thanksgiving."
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A 1636 Thanksgiving held in the
Plymouth Colony community of Scituate began with prayer
"In ye Meetinghouse, beginning some halfe an hour before nine &
continued untill after twelve aclocke, ye day beeing very cold, beginning wt a short
prayer, then a psalme sang, then more large in prayer, after that an other Psalme, &
then the Word taught, after that prayer - & then a psalme…" and then was
followed by dinner, "…the poorer sort beeing invited of the richer." |
Youth's Companion, November 1903 |
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| As the 17th century progressed,
Thanksgiving began to evolve into an autumn holiday proclaimed by the Governor, for the
purpose of praising God for the general blessings of the year. In 1668, the Plymouth
Colony Court decreed |
takeing notice of the goodnes of God to us in the continuance of our civill and
religious liberties, the generall health that wee have enjoyed, and that it hath pleased
God in some comfortable measure to blesse us in the fruites of the earth… doe propose
unto the severall congregations of this gov’ment, that the 25th day of
November next, which wilbe ye fourth day of the weeke, to be kept as a sollemne day of
thanksgiveing…
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By the 18th century,
traditions merged.
Thanksgiving Day began with
church services, which included a reading of the proclamation from the pulpit. The
prayerful spirit of gratitude to God and generosity to others was interwoven with
recreation, family reunions and abundant festive dinners. |
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Youth's Companion, November 1899 |
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Today, we still share
the religious spirit of those earlier Thanksgivings : |
- an autumn thanksgiving to God for the blessings of the year is proclaimed,
- our abundance is shared with those who are less fortunate,
- and many families, before the feast, bow their heads in prayer.
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