This is the Thanksgiving season, not yet the Christmas season, despite what television shows, advertisements and store displays might suggest. So, I thought it might be fun to explore the history of Thanksgiving. The annual recognition of the celebration in North America has a rich history that dates back to as early as 1607 in Cape Henry, Virginia with the Jamestown Settlers, and some believe as far back as 1541 at Palo Duro Canyon, Texas with Coronado and 1,500 of his men. In 1564 a Thanksgiving celebration was held at St. Augustine, Florida with French Huguenot (Protestant) colonists. In 1598 at El Paso, Texas a Thanksgiving celebration was held by Juan de Oñate and his expedition. And, in 1619 a Thanksgiving celebration was held at Berkeley Plantation, Virginia. This list is not exhaustive, but the tradition has persisted and continued over the centuries until now.

Despite recent efforts to re-write some of Thanksgiving's history, the current tradition of Thanksgving derives from the Pilgrims. These courageous folk, led by William Bradord, set sail for the new world on the North American continent on September 6, 1620 and spent a greuling two months on board the Mayflower enduring the harsh elements and maneuvering the storm-tossed sea. When they finally landed at Plymouth Rock in current day Massachusetts, they held a prayer vigil as was their practice and belief, to thank God for their safe arrival, and then they set out to build the Plymouth Colony.

These newcomers, however, were sorely unprepared for the harsh New England winters. Nearly half of the Pilgrims died before the Spring of 1621 arrived. But, an Indian named Samoset approached the Pilgrims and to their amazement spoke to them in their own language. Samoset explained that he had learned English from fishermen and traders. Samoset returned later with a friend named Squanto. This remarkable individual stayed to live with the Pilgrims and taught them how to live in the New World. Squanto and Samoset helped forge a long-lasting peace treaty between the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag Indians. Governor Bradford later said of Squanto that he was “a special instrument sent of God for [our] good . . . and never left [us] till he died.”

With Squanto's help the Pilgrims managed to reap a bountfiful harvest in 1621. The Pilgrims, therefore, declared a three-day feast to thank God and to celebrate with their inidian friends. This first celebration became an annual tradition and then slowly spread into other colonies.

The First National Thanksgiving in the United States occurred in 1789. The Congressional Record reflects that on September 25 of that year, immediately after approving the Bill of Rights:

"Mr. [Elias] Boudinot said he could not think of letting the [congressional] session pass without offering an opportunity to all the citizens of the United States of joining with one voice in returning to Almighty God their sincere thanks for the many blessings He had poured down upon them."

With this view, therefore, he moved the following resolution:

"Resolved, That a joint committee of both Houses be directed to wait upon the President of the United States to request that he would recommend to the people of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer. . . ."

The resolution was delivered to President George Washington, who agreed with the congressional request, declaring:

"Whereas it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor. . . . Now, therefore, I do appoint Thursday, the 26th day of November 1789 . . . that we may all unite to render unto Him our sincere and humble thanks for His kind care and protection."

National Thanksgiving Proclamations occurred only sporadically thereafter and most official Thanksgiving observances ocurred only at the state level. Credit for the adoption of an annual National Thanksgiving may be attributed to Mrs. Sarah Josepha Hale, the editor of Godey's Lady's Book. For over twenty years, she promoted the idea of a National Thanksgiving Day. It was she who contacted President after President until Abraham Lincoln finally responded in 1863 by setting aside the last Thursday of November for the holiday. Lincoln declared:

"We are prone to forget the Source from which [the blessings of fruitful years and healthful skies] come. . . . 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. . . . I do, therefore invite my fellow-citizens in every part of the United States . . . to observe the last Thursday of November next as a day of thanksgiving and praise to our beneficent Father. Who dwelleth in the heavens."

For the next seventy-five years, Presidents followed Lincoln's precedent, annually declaring a National Thanksgiving Day. But, in 1941, Congress permanently established the fourth Thursday of each November as a national holiday.

So, as you celebrate Thanksgiving this year, giving thanks to God or to whatever source of providence you acknowledge, remember the rich and deep history of this wonderful holiday. Look around you and find the family, the friends, and the blessings that you have for which to express thanks -- even in the hardest times you can find someone or something. Thanksgiving deserves thoughtful recognition and it should not be lost in the commercial rush to get to our next great holiday. Life is short enough as is and it is meant to be cherrished one day at a time. Don't get caught up in rush.