Thanksgiving History


This historic proclamation was issued by George Washington during his first year
as President. It sets aside Thursday, November 26 as "A Day of Public
Thanksgiving and Prayer." Signed by Washington on October 3, 1789 and entitled
"General Thanksgiving," the decree appointed the day "to be observed by
acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favors of Almighty God."
Thanksgiving Proclamation - The Original

While there were Thanksgiving observances in America both before and after
Washington's proclamation, this represents the first to be so designated by the
new national government. After their first harvest, the colonists of the
Plymouth Plantation held a celebration of food and feasting in the fall of 1621.
Indian chiefs
Massassoit, Squanto and Samoset joined in the celebration with ninety of their
men in the three-day event.

The first recorded Thanksgiving observance was held on June 29, 1671 at
Charlestown, Massachusetts by proclamation of the town's governing council.
During the 1700s, it was common practice for individual colonies to observe days
of thanksgiving throughout each year. A Thanksgiving Day two hundred years ago
was a day set aside for prayer and fasting, not a day marked by plentiful food
and drink as is today's custom. Later in the 18th century each of the states
periodically would designate a day of thanksgiving in honor of a military
victory, an adoption of a state constitution or an exceptionally bountiful crop.
Such a Thanksgiving Day celebration celebration was held in December of 1777 by
the colonies nationwide, commemorating the surrender of British General Burgoyne
at Saratoga.

Later, on October 3, 1863, President Abraham Lincoln issued a proclamation
calling for the observance of the fourth Tuesday of November as a national
holiday. In 1939, President Franklin D. Roosevelt moved the holiday to the third
Thursday of November (to extend the Christmas shopping season and boost the
economy). After a storm of protest, Roosevelt changed the holiday again in 1941
to the fourth Thursday in November, where it stands today.