By Paul Waldmiller
Did you know that the very first Thanksgiving in America was celebrated on November of 1621? The first meal was designed to give thanks to God for provision to the surviving English Pilgrims who one year after landing in the “new world”. Half of their fellow Pilgrims had died from starvation or disease but the other half survived.
Were you also aware that it was the Native Americans who helped the English settlers survive that following year and had instructed the Pilgrims how to grow food and hunt? If it were not for the Native Americans who gave the Pilgrims genuine love and support for their new neighbors, all of the remaining Pilgrims would have died during the following winter.
It was President Abraham Lincoln who on October 3rd, 1863 proclaimed that Americans would officially celebrate the Thanksgiving Holiday. Some historians believe that President Lincoln proclaimed Thanksgiving as a national holiday as a way to unify the nation in the midst of a bitter civil war. Other American historians believe that Lincoln used the opportunity to make Thanksgiving an official holiday as a model of George Washington’s official proclamation observing a Day of Thanksgiving and Prayer.
We continue to celebrate Thanksgiving as a national holiday, but traditions have changed over time. One reason for change are immigrants from all around the world who celebrate our national holiday in various ways. Special foods may be added from their unique culture. The original idea and purpose of giving thanks to God for another year of blessings, having a special meal together with family and loved-one’s also has largely been lost. Many Americans no longer believe in the same God or any God at all. An increasing number of family members geographically are not willing to travel to be with other family members. Some family members hold grudges or are bitter with no desire to be with family members during the holiday season.
My thought on this holiday is that we should all have a reason to be thankful. Not only one time per year but every day. Don’t you agree?