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As we celebrate Thanksgiving, I wanted to share an excerpt from a pastor, C. Franklin Helt, on the history of our national holiday.
The pilgrims set ground at Plymouth Rock on Dec. 11, 1620. Their first winter was devastating. At the beginning of the following fall, they had lost 46 of their original 102 who sailed on the Mayflower. But the harvest of 1621 was a bountiful one. The remaining colonists decided to celebrate with a feast, including 91 Indians who helped the pilgrims survive their first year. It is believed that the pilgrims would not have made it through the year without the help of the native Indians. The feat was more of a traditional English harvest festival than a true "Thanksgiving" Observance. It lasted three days.
George William Bradford sent "four men fowling" after wild duck and geese. It is not certain that wild turkey was part of their feast. However, it is certain that they had venison. The term "turkey" was used by the pilgrims to mean any sort of wild fowl.
Another modern staple at almost every Thanksgiving table is pumpkin pie. But it is unlikely that the first feast included that. The supply of flour had long been diminished, so there was no bread or pastries of any kind. However, they did eat boiled pumpkin, and they produced a fried bread from their corn syrup. There was also no milk, cider, potatoes, or butter. There were no domestic cattle for dairy products. But the feast did include fish, berries, watercress, lobster, dried fruit, clams, venison, and plums.
This "Thanksgiving" feast was not repeated the following year. But in 1623, during a severe drought the Pilgrims gathered in a prayer service, praying for rain. When a long, steady rain followed the very next day, Governor Bradford proclaimed another day of Thanksgiving, again inviting their Indian friends. It wasn't until 1676 that another Day of Thanksgiving was proclaimed.
On June 20, 1676, the governing council of Charlestown, Mass. held a meeting to determine how best to express thanks for the good fortune that had seen their community securely established. By unanimous vote they instructed Edward Rawson, the clerk, to proclaim June 29 as a day of celebration. October 1777 marked the first time that all 13 colonies joined in a Thanksgiving celebration.
George Washington proclaimed a National Day of Thanksgiving in 1789, although some were opposed to it. There was discord among the colonies, many feeling the hardships of a few pilgrims did not warrant a national holiday.
It was Sarah Josepha Hale, a magazine editor, whose efforts eventually led to what we recognize as Thanksgiving. Finally, after a 40-year campaign of writing editorials and letters to governors and presidents, Hale's obsession became a reality when, in 1863, President Lincoln proclaimed the last Thursday in November as the National Day of Thanksgiving,
Thanksgiving was proclaimed by every president after Lincoln. The date was changed a couple of times. And in 1941, Thanksgiving was finally sanctioned by Congress as a legal holiday, as the fourth Thursday in November.
So this month, I pray you have a happy Thanksgiving. Remember to give thanks to God for all His blessings. Enjoy the day and remember His goodness. And continue the wonderful tradition of Thanksgiving Day and its blessings.
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Finding Faith is written by area pastors. This week's column comes from Rev. John Snyder, pastor of House of the Lord Fellowship, Lock Haven.