October 3: Happy Thanksgiving

On 3 October 1789 George Washington signed a proclamation that November 26 would be “A day of public thanksgiving and prayer.” There had been many more Thanksgiving observances in America before Washington but this was particularly important because it was the first holiday declared by the new national government of the United States of America.

A similar Thanksgiving Day celebration held by the colonies came following the surrender of British General Burgoyne at Saratoga. Seventy four years following President Washington’s proclamation, President Abraham Lincoln signed a proclamation declaring the fourth Tuesday as a national Thanksgiving holiday. In 1939 Franklin D. Roosevelt moved the holiday to the third Thursday in November to extend the holiday shopping season and boost the economy. In 1941, he changed it to the fourth Thursday of November. That’s how we ended up with the Thanksgiving calendar we have today.

Thanksgiving can be traced back to the pilgrims breaking bread with the Indians but it means much more today. It is often forgotten why we truly celebrate Thanksgiving. It’s a day where we can put all our differences aside and come together and be thankful for all that we hold near and dear to us.

It is important to note that this was the first national holiday of the United States of America. It has been deeply assimilated into American culture. Because all types of Americans celebrate this holiday it signifies unity.

The fact that all different types of cultures and religions celebrate this holiday, in their own way makes it even more American. Today, I hope you think of Washington’s proclamation and really appreciate what it means.
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About the Author: Mohamed Shuman

I enjoy learning, fishing, reading, playing all types of sports, and playing guitar. I spend most of my free time outdoors or reading about economics and history. I am deeply involved in politics. I am the Republican precinct delegate for precinct one in Wayne County. My heroes include Thomas Jefferson and Dr. Ronald Ernest Paul. My political views are Jeffersonian because I believe in maximum personal responsibility. I am a libertarian not only politically but in a sense that I view everyone as an individual with liberty no matter their race or culture or nationality.


4 Responses

  1. Shelby Mann says:

    I had no idea that Thanksgiving was the first holiday declared in the United States with the new national government. I also did not realize the date of Thanksgiving had been changed so many times and that it is celebrating the harvest.
    When I think of the first Thanksgiving I think of the 1621 feast at Plymouth with the Native Americans. I think of the turkey at a table surrounded by family. Knowing that the first Thanksgiving happened in modern day Massachusetts, I don’t think about the other countries that celebrate it. Canadians celebrate their Thanksgiving on the second Monday of October. Other countries that celebrate Thanksgiving are Korea, Japan, Germany, and The Netherlands.
    In the United States, we celebrate Thanksgiving and we talk about what we’re thankful for. The crazy part, is the next day is considered Black Friday, and we go insane and spoiled. Funny how things work!

  2. Makenzy Wilson says:

    The first Thanksgiving occurred in November of 1621. With help from Squanto, a member of the Pawtuxet tribe, the Pilgrims successfully harvested corn amongst learning numerous other tasks vital to their survival. The governor at that time, William Bradford, decided a celebration feast was to take place for their accomplishments. He thought it was only polite to invite their new allies, the tribes that helped them on their endeavor in the new world. The feast, lasting a total of three days, brought together people with very different beliefs for one common reason. An idea lasting even until today, the pilgrims were thankful for their triumphs throughout the year.

    -Makenzy Wilson

  3. Jessica Linderman says:

    Thanksgiving can also be traced back to a biblical holiday, known as the Feast of Tabernacles. This feast was held around during autumn and centered on praising God for the harvest season. The concept of giving thanks to god goes back to the Israelites. There are at least 28 references to thanksgiving in the King James Version of the Bible. In Ancient Israel the act of giving thanks to god was not reserved for a specific holiday, it was part of daily life. Pilgrims were an extremely religious group, and the bible was the book they centered their lives around. It is interesting to see that thanksgiving has even deeper roots than I originally thought.

  4. Zach Yates says:

    While Thanksgiving is one of the United States’ first holidays, there are nine other federally declared holidays and one quadrennial holiday. Although the President can suggest a holiday, Congress has to approve of them and only federal employees have to adhere to the holidays. State governments may choose to recognize the federal holidays, but are not obligated to. The ten federal holidays are New Year’s Day, the birthday of Martin Luther King Jr., President’s Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day, Veterans, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas. The quadrennial (occurring every four years) federal holiday is Inauguration Day.

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