The First Thanksgiving, painting by Jean Louis Gerome Ferris (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Our Thanksgiving here in America:
The Pilgrims, who came to America for religious freedom, proclaimed a special three-day celebration of thanksgiving following their first successful harvest. They viewed that year’s bounty as an act of Divine Providence in their lives.
Later, the Continental Congress set aside a national day of Thanksgiving following a major victory in the War for Independence.
One of George Washington’s first acts as President of the United States was to proclaim a national day of Thanksgiving. Other U.S. Presidents also proclaimed a special day of Thanksgiving, but it was President Abraham Lincoln who set it as the fourth Thursday of November. On October 3, 1863 President Lincoln issued a proclamation calling for a National Day of Thanksgiving. After citing the many blessings given to the nation in the midst of the Civil War, Lincoln wrote:
“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 also those who are at sea 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.”
Each of Lincoln’s successors has followed his example, calling for a Day of Thanksgiving each year of their presidency up to President Franklin Roosevelt. FDR then made it a permanent annual holiday on the fourth Thursday of November.
Happy Thanksgiving!!
MY THANKSGIVING DINNER MENU:
Baked Sweet Potatoes
Baked Acorn Squash
Baked Butternut Squash
Pan Gravy
Whole Wheat Dinner Rolls, bread machine
Pickles and Olives
Deviled Eggs
And I made a Pumpkin Roll but need a new recipe, I didn’t like the way it turned out.
Hope you all have a great day!
Hey sweetie! Thanks for the history lesson, shamefully I should already have know this and if I did I totally forgot about most of it…. Sorry I haven’t been by… my health , Christmas orders and family life is swamped and I haven’t blogged in over a week..Just know that I miss you! Hugs
I am sorry you are not feeling very well, you are in my prayers. I missed you too, glad you stopped by. Hope you are feeling better, and try to take a little time out for just you! Take care of yourself. Hugs back.