Be Thankful for Food, Family & Friends

In November 1621, the Plymouth colonists and the Wampanoag indians shared a harvest feast that has since been recognized as the first Thanksgiving.  And for more than two centuries, the day was celebrated by the individual colonies and states.  It wasn’t until 1863 in the middle of the Civil War that President Lincoln proclaimed a national Thanksgiving Day to be held each November.

The American concept of Thanksgiving was developed by the colonies of New England but the roots of days of feasting can be traced back to the other side of the Atlantic.  Both the Separatists, who came over on the Mayflower, and the Puritans, who arrived soon after, brought with them a tradition of providential holidays consisting of days of fasting during difficult or pivotal times and days of feasting and celebration to thank God in times of plenty.