There are many accounts of the history of Thanksgiving, but they tend to focus only on the infamous Pilgrims and Indians. While this was an important example of a Day of Thanksgiving, it is only a small part of the story. The true history of this day goes back far before the Pilgrims and Native Americans met at Plymouth, and continues well into the history of the new Nation.
Today, Thanksgiving makes us think of Turkey, good food, and family gatherings. But the roots of the holiday are far richer and more meaningful. Thanksgiving was, and is, a uniquely Christian expression of thanks to God for His provision. This article is intended as a history lesson, devotional, and guide to celebrating this holiday. It is only by remembering the history of our High Days and Holy Days that we can truly understand their impact.
The pilgrims who came over from England in 1620 were, in many ways, ordinary men and women. Some of them were members of the English Separatist Church (a Puritan sect of Christianity), and others were interested in the opportunity that awaited in the New World. Regardless of their purpose in coming, they had a strong Faith that guided them.
The Separatists originally fled England and sailed to Holland to escape the religious intolerance and oppression of their homeland. In their day, the Church and the State of England were one, and independent congregations with differing doctrines and traditions were not free to worship as they saw fit. Separatists had come to the conclusion that membership in the Church of England violated Biblical teaching. They fled their homeland so they could pursue God in a way they considered to be truer to the teaching of the Bible.
This group successfully escaped religious persecution from the Church of England, but eventually became disenchanted with the Dutch way of life. They observed the lifestyles of those around them and realized it was not compatible with their understanding of a godly society. They saw the influence of a secular culture on their children, and realized that for their movement to survive, they must separate from the entrapments of the world.
So once again, they pushed on toward a new place where they could both worship the Biblical God of Christianity and live in a way honorable to this God. The New World offered them a chance to build a community as they saw fit; one based on the Bible.
The Mayflower held more than just the Separatist Puritans. The ship also contained other pilgrims who still remained loyal to the Church of England but came to the new world for economic reasons or because they sympathized with the Puritans in one way or another. But one thing was certain about everyone on the ship. Whether they were part of the Puritan group or simply along to assist them and make a new life for themselves, everyone shared a fervent and pervasive Protestant faith permeating all aspects of their lives. So, when the pilgrims made ground at Plymouth Rock on December 11th, 1620, they were also grounded in their faith as Christians. In less than a year, they suffered the loss of 46 of their original 102 members, but they never lost their faith.
“Lastly, (and which was not least), a great hope and inward zeal they had of laying some good foundation, or at least to make some way thereunto, for the propagating and advancing the gospel of the kingdom of Christ in those remote parts of the world; yea, though they should be but even as stepping-stones unto others for the performing of so great a work.”
- Bradford, William. Of Plymouth Plantation, 1620--1647.
When the Mayflower, which was originally destined for a location in what is now Virginia, landed in Plymouth, some of the passengers began to rebel against the established chain of command. They claimed that the jurisdiction of the established Virginia Company was limited to the planned location of the colony, and that having landed in a different location, they were free to set off on their own. The leaders realized that the colony would fall apart without unity, but they also recognized that an ocean separated them from established Rule of Law. Without buy-in from the people, the experiment would fail.
William Brewster and the other leaders realized that they needed a temporary government. In Europe, authority came from the King, but here it could only come from the people themselves, voluntarily agreeing to a “body politic” for their mutual survival.
The Separatists and Strangers made a written agreement, the Mayflower Compact, to promote unity and Rule of Law in the new land. This document is widely considered to be the first “constitution” that was ratified by the people, instead of by an established government. Almost every adult male, including two indentured servants, signed the document. Unlike in Europe, where government was by and for the Elite, the body politic of the Plymouth Colony was ordained and established by all free men, regardless of creed or standing.
At the end of the harvest of 1621, the pilgrims decided to celebrate. The pilgrims brought with them both religious and secular customs from their homeland. Among these customs were the tradition of a secular harvest festival and the tradition of a religious holy day of thanksgiving. These were two separate celebrations for the original pilgrims, but both celebrations had strong religious overtones. Even the secular harvest celebration included a religious component of thanks to the Christian God who had provided the harvest. In addition to this celebration, the pilgrims also dedicated a day of thanksgiving that was purely religious in nature.
Thanksgiving was one of only three Christian holidays celebrated by the pilgrims (the Sabbath, the Day of Humiliation and Fasting, and the Day of Thanksgiving and Praise). In these early days, Thanksgiving was not celebrated on a regular basis, but only in direct response to God’s Providence. This had been done, even in Holland where they had fled from persecution. Long before setting sail for the New World, this occasional Day of Thanksgiving was a part of the life of the Puritans. They recognized the importance of stopping to remember and celebrate what God had done for them.
The celebration that is commonly called the “First Thanksgiving,” was an example of this kind of holiday; however this was by no means the first time the Puritans had celebrated in this way. In response to God’s blessings of a plentiful harvest and friendship with the natives they had met, the Separatists declared a Day of Thanksgiving.
Pilgrim Edward Winslow described the setting:
“Our harvest being gotten in, our Governor sent four men on fowling [bird hunting] so that we might, after a special manner, rejoice together after we had gathered the fruit of our labors. They four in one day killed as much fowl as… served the company almost a week… Many of the Indians [came] amongst us and… their greatest King, Massasoit, with some ninety men, whom for three days we entertained and feasted; and they went out and killed five deer, which they brought… And although it be not always so plentiful as it was at this time with us, yet by the goodness of God we are… far from want”
During the early period of the colony, the Separatists attempted to start a collective agricultural endeavor. As part of the contract, their building, farmland, and produce were to be collectively owned and shared equally. It was thought that this would ensure fairness throughout the community. Their voyage was financed by a group of investors called the Merchant Adventurers. As a means to pay back the investors, the Pilgrims initially set up a socialistic economy, and a portion of the communal proceeds were set aside to pay back the investors.
Shortly after the infamous first thanksgiving in the New World, a second ship arrived from England with more people and almost no supplies. The food supply continued to be a severe struggle for the new colony.
In accordance with the agreement they had with the Merchant Adventurers, the settlers set up communal plots of land to raise produce. Unfortunately, the socialized farming was not very effective, and gave a poor yield.
William Bradford, the second Governor of the Colony, recognized that the communal system was not efficient, and so he gave to each family a tract of land. The result was substantial increase in productivity, as each family felt both responsibility for their produce as well as a motivation to work hard.
All this while no supply was heard of, neither knew they when they might expect any. So they began to think how they might raise as much corn as they could, and obtain a better crop than they had done, that they might not still thus languish in misery. At length, after much debate of things, the Governor (with the advice of the chiefest amongst them) gave way that they should set corn every man for his own particular, and in that regard trust to themselves; in all other things to go on in the general way as before. And so assigned to every family a parcel of land, according to the proportion of their number, for that end, only for present use (but made no division for inheritance) and ranged all boys and youth under some family. This had very good success, for it made all hands very industrious, so as much more corn was planted than otherwise would have been by any means the Governor or any other could use, and saved him a great deal of trouble, and gave far better content. The women now went willingly into the field, and took their little ones with them to set corn; which before would allege weakness and inability; whom to have compelled would have been thought great tyranny and oppression.
The experience that was had in this common course and condition, tried sundry years and that amongst godly and sober men, may well evince the vanity of that conceit of Plato's and other ancients applauded by some of later times; that the taking away of property and bringing in community into a commonwealth would make them happy and flourishing; as if they were wiser than God. For this community (so far as it was) was found to breed much confusion and discontent and retard much employment that would have been to their benefit and comfort. For the young men, that were most able and fit for labour and service, did repine that they should spend their time and strength to work for other men's wives and children without any recompense.
- Bradford, William. Of Plymouth Plantation, 1620--1647.
Thanksgiving celebrations followed for many years, and often became part of the political and corporate life of larger groups as the colonies grew and formed in the New World. On June 20, 1676, the governing council of Charlestown, Massachusetts, met to decide how to best express their thanks to God in a corporate celebration of thanksgiving. They had just established themselves as a community and they wanted to thank God in a public way. The council unanimously voted to instruct clerk Edward Rawson to proclaim June 29th as a Day of Thanksgiving.
“The Holy God having by a long and Continual Series of his Afflictive dispensations in and by the present War with the Heathen Natives of this land, written and brought to pass bitter things against his own Covenant people in this wilderness, yet so that we evidently discern that in the midst of his judgments he hath remembered mercy, having remembered his Footstool in the day of his sore displeasure against us for our sins, with many singular Intimations of his Fatherly Compassion, and regard; reserving many of our Towns from Desolation Threatened, and attempted by the Enemy, and giving us especially of late with many of our Confederates many signal Advantages against them, without such Disadvantage to ourselves as formerly we have been sensible of, if it be the Lord’s mercy that we are not consumed, It certainly bespeaks our positive Thankfulness, when our Enemies are in any measure disappointed or destroyed; and fearing the Lord should take notice under so many Intimations of his returning mercy, we should be found an Insensible people, as not standing before Him with Thanksgiving, as well as lading him with our Complaints in the time of pressing Afflictions: The Council has thought meet to appoint and set apart the 29th day of this instant June, as a day of Solemn Thanksgiving and praise to God for such his Goodness and Favor, many Particulars of which mercy might be Instanced, but we doubt not those who are sensible of God’s Afflictions, have been as diligent to espy him returning to us; and that the Lord may behold us as a People offering Praise and thereby glorifying Him; the Council doth commend it to the Respective Ministers, Elders and people of this Jurisdiction; Solemnly and seriously to keep the same Beseeching that being persuaded by the mercies of God we may all, even this whole people offer up our bodies and souls as a living and acceptable Service unto God by Jesus Christ.”
The founding fathers of our country also embraced and affirmed the notion God alone is ultimately responsible for our provision and success. That’s why many first founders and early presidents affirmed the Thanksgiving celebration. The original 13 colonies joined together in October of 1777 to celebrate their first joint Thanksgiving Holiday. It was much like the occasional pilgrim Thanksgiving celebrations following an act of God’s provision. In this case, the colonies were thanking God for their recent victory of the British at Saratoga. But national celebrations of Thanksgiving didn’t end here. They continued throughout the first years of our national history. In fact, they were endorsed by the federal government which, in turn, affirmed the role God played in providing for His people. George Washington proclaimed a National Day of Thanksgiving in 1789. Washington’s words clearly reflected a Christian theology and notion about God as the Provider of all things, unchanging, and ruling the nations:
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 favour; and Whereas both Houses of Congress have, by their joint committee, requested me “to recommend to the people of the United States a DAY OF PUBLICK THANSGIVING and PRAYER, to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness:”
NOW THEREFORE, I do recommend and assign THURSDAY, the TWENTY-SIXTH DAY of NOVEMBER next, to be devoted by the people of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being who is the beneficent author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be; that we may then all unite in rendering unto Him our sincere and humble thanks for His kind care and protection of the people of this country previous to their becoming a nation; for the signal and manifold mercies and the favorable interpositions of His providence in the course and conclusion of the late war; for the great degree of tranquility, union, and plenty which we have since enjoyed;– for the peaceable and rational manner in which we have been enable to establish Constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national one now lately instituted;– for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed, and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge;– and, in general, for all the great and various favours which He has been pleased to confer upon us.
And also, that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech Him to pardon our national and other transgressions; – to enable us all, whether in publick or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually; to render our National Government a blessing to all the people by constantly being a Government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed; to protect and guide all sovereigns and nations (especially such as have shewn kindness unto us); and to bless them with good governments, peace, and concord; to promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the increase of science among them and us; and, generally to grant unto all mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as he alone knows to be best.
GIVEN under my hand, at the city of New-York, the third day of October, in the year of our Lord, one thousand seven hundred and eighty-nine.
- G. Washington
Over the years, and even as the nation became more and more secular, there was a popular outcry to continue the holiday. This was recognized by a number of presidents along the way, particularly by President Abraham Lincoln who, in 1863, established Thanksgiving as a national day of celebration and prayer to be celebrated on the last day in November. Once again, Lincoln revealed his Christian upbringing as he crafted a proclamation for a day of Thanksgiving and Prayer. Lincoln’s famous proclamation reiterated the Christian themes first expressed by George Washington, restated in the context of the civil war:
The year that is drawing towards its close, has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added, which are of so extraordinary a nature, that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever watchful providence of Almighty God. In the midst of a civil war of unequalled magnitude and severity, which has sometimes seemed to foreign States to invite and to provoke their aggression, peace has been preserved with all nations, order has been maintained, the laws have been respected and obeyed, and harmony has prevailed everywhere except in the theatre of military conflict; while that theatre has been greatly contracted by the advancing armies and navies of the Union. Needful diversions of wealth and of strength from the fields of peaceful industry to the national defence, have not arrested the plough, the shuttle, or the ship; the axe had enlarged the borders of our settlements, and the mines, as well of iron and coal as of the precious metals, have yielded even more abundantly than heretofore. Population has steadily increased, notwithstanding the waste that has been made in the camp, the siege and the battle-field; and the country, rejoicing in the consciousness of augmented strength and vigor, is permitted to expect continuance of years with large increase of freedom.
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. It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and voice by the whole American People. 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. And I recommend to them that while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings, they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to his tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty Hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquillity and Union.
- Abraham Lincoln
This article is heavily based on the following article from Cold Case Christianity:
It is reproduced here, with modifications and additions, with written permission from them. Please check out the original article, which has some more details and information on this topic.
We also pulled information from the following sites.
https://press-pubs.uchicago.edu/founders/documents/v1ch16s1.html
https://mspolicy.org/socialism-failed-for-the-pilgrims-but-freedom-triumphed/
https://www.renewanation.org/post/the-pilgrims-experiment-with-socialism
https://plymrock.org/answered-prayer-and-a-day-of-thanksgiving/
Note: the mainstream understanding of Thanksgiving is very different from the one we present here. Our hope is to provide a more holistic picture of this holiday, emphasizing its Christian roots, show that it goes far beyond the classic story of the Pilgrims and Indians, and focus on the truths we can learn from its historical context. That being said, we are not historians, and so we highly recommend you do additional research to better understand the details of this wonderful holiday.