Known for its gastronomic delights, Thanksgiving in America has its beginnings in 1621 when the Pilgrims invited the Wampanoag Indians to join them for a three-day feast to thank God for His blessings. Other colonies, and later the states, followed the Pilgrims’ example and declared public days of thanksgiving.

Eventually, in 1941, Thanksgiving became a permanent federal holiday observed annually the fourth Thursday of November.

Does the American Thanksgiving holiday commemorate a singular historical event – the Pilgrims’ celebration of the first bountiful harvest in the New World – or is giving thanks to God an integral part of our American heritage?

Public ceremonies, dances, and feasts in response to a successful growing season were commonplace long before the Pilgrims arrived in America. Harvest festivals were observed annually in England and Native American tribes held harvest festivals for centuries before the arrival of Europeans in North America. Did the Pilgrims simply embrace the blending of Indian and European cultures?

While the First Thanksgiving did attach importance to the role of the Indians in the harvest and did blend Indian and European cultures, the tradition of giving thanks to God by settlers in the American colonies was more than a harvest festival. Two years earlier, in 1619, British settlers in the Berkeley Plantation, Virginia, prayed with public thanksgiving to God after their long voyage across the Atlantic.

The Pilgrims had sailed in 1620 seeking a refuge for religious freedom in America. Many did not survive the oceanic voyage nor the famine and sickness of the harsh winter that followed. After suffering hardship and grieving the deaths of loved ones, the Pilgrims acknowledged that all of their blessings were from God.

Holidays (holy days) of thanksgiving in America are expressions of gratitude to God reflecting the American character throughout history. Periods of public fasting, prayer and humiliation, repentance and humbling oneself before God, were followed by praises to God for His provision even through difficult circumstances.

The founders of our American form of government understood the Providence of God. At the beginning of the fight for independence, a national day of “Fasting, Humiliation and Prayer” was proclaimed by the First Continental Congress for July 20, 1775.

The following year, May 17, 1776, was declared by Congress as a “day of Humiliation, Fasting and Prayer” throughout the colonies. Soon after, the Declaration of Independence was completed, including these words, “…with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence.”

In 1782, near the end of the Revolutionary War, the Continental Congress issued a thanksgiving proclamation designating Thursday, the 28th of November, as a "day of solemn Thanksgiving to God for all his mercies."

The proclamation reveals the American character:

“It being the indispensable duty of all Nations, not only to offer up their supplications to Almighty God, the giver of all good, for his gracious assistance in a time of distress, but also in a solemn and public manner to give him praise for his goodness in general…”

Seven years later, following approval of the Bill of Rights, members of the Continental Congress urged President Washington to proclaim a day of Thanksgiving. His first Thanksgiving proclamation in the new nation declared:

“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...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."

This statement was issued following  years of war on American soil during which many suffered and died.

In the midst of the Civil War, in March of 1863, President Lincoln proclaimed a day for prayer and fasting. Later that year, he declared a day of Thanksgiving for the last Thursday of November that included the following words: “We are prone to forget the Source from which (blessings) come…They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God…”

There was no victory to be celebrated at that time. In fact, both the Union and Confederate Armies suffered great losses that summer in the Battles of Gettysburg and Vicksburg. The outcome of the Civil War was uncertain. Nevertheless, it was part of the American character to praise God.

It was on December 26, 1941, that President Roosevelt established Thanksgiving as an annual federal holiday. This was only a few short weeks after that "day of infamy," the December 7th Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor that forced the United States into World War II.

Throughout our history, the American character is to be faithful and trust in God’s providence. As noted by President George W. Bush on November 16, 2001, two months after the terrorist attacks on American soil, “During these extraordinary times, we find particular assurance from our Thanksgiving tradition, which reminds us that we, as a people and individually, always have reason to hope and trust in God, despite great adversity.”

In the face of adversity, Americans hope and pray and give thanks to God for His goodness - that is our American character.

© 2009 Yvonne K. Chapman

In fourteen hundred ninety-two Columbus sailed the ocean blue.

So begins the classic poem children recite to remember that on October 12, 1492, Christopher Columbus landed on a small island in the Bahamas, convinced that he had reached the East Indies. How is that relevant to life today? What Columbus achieved is intrinsic to American life and, indeed, his influence is reflected in our values and our Constitution.

The respect of Columbus in America and his recognition as a founding figure dates back to colonial times. The 300th anniversary of Columbus’ first landing, in New York City in 1792, was organized by The Society of St. Tammany. This commemoration recognized that Columbus’ achievement was significant in blending Native American and European cultures in America. The Society was founded to honor a Native American Chief who played a prominent role in establishing peaceful relations between Native American tribes and English settlers. 

Chief Tammany symbolized the distinct identity of America, the synthesis of Native American and European cultures. Our Founding Fathers, many who were members of The Society, regarded American Indians as symbols of the peace, justice and freedom they were seeking. In rejecting European class systems and autocratic government, our Founding Fathers adopted concepts and values observed in native tribes such as a weak executive (except in war), popular participation in government, and charity for the poor. 

During the revolution, members of The Society called themselves the Sons of Liberty. Considering the Indian symbolic of their own rebellion against Britain, they adopted Indian symbols and imagery in their movement as exemplified in the Boston Tea Party. The Society of St. Tammany was also known as the Columbian Order; America was sometimes referred to as Columbia, in fact, the District of Columbia was named for Columbus.

Christopher Columbus, whose name means “the Christ bearer,” was a devout believer whose voyages were motivated, in part, to spread Christianity to the New World. Traditional historians view his voyages as opening the New World to Western civilization and Christianity and, in fact, thousands of European Christians followed Columbus to America to plant colonies, lead souls to Christ, and claim religious freedom. 

Indeed, it was Columbus’ faith in divine Providence that enabled him to persevere in seeking support for his project and to endure the adversities inherent in the oceanic adventure. Resolute in his journey, he defied scoffers who warned of dragons and death, withstood discomfort and threats of mutiny, faced cannibals and suffered hardships, along with those who sailed with him. In his writings he declared:

I attest that He…consoled me through the holy and sacred Scriptures…No one should be afraid to take on any enterprise in the name of our Savior if it is right and if the purpose is purely for His holy service.

Near the end of his return voyage, Columbus sent a letter for Ferdinand and Isabella announcing the discovery of the West Indies that further attests his faith:

As I know you will be rejoiced at the glorious success that our Lord has given me in my voyage … [where he discovered a great many islands, naming some San Salvador (Holy Savior), Santa Maria de la Concepcion (Mary, Mother of Jesus), Trinidad (Trinity), Vera Cruz (True Cross) and a city, La Navidad (Nativity or Christmas).]

The eternal and almighty God, our Lord, it is Who gives to all who walk in His way, victory over things apparently impossible … all Christendom should rejoice, celebrating it with great festivities and solemn Thanksgivings to the Holy Trinity, with fervent prayers for the high distinction that will accrue to them from turning so many peoples to our holy faith; and also from the temporal benefits that not only Spain but all Christian nations will obtain.

Columbus hoped to find a naval trade route to India and died believing he had reached the shores of Cathay. Instead, he found an entire continent mostly unknown to Europeans at the time. Critically underestimating the circumference of the Earth, he sought a westward route from Iberia to the Indies, shorter and more direct than overland through Arabia, so Spain could enter the profitable spice trade that the Arabs and Italians dominated. Instead, he landed within the Bahamas Archipelago and, mistaking the North-American island for the East-Asian mainland, referred to its inhabitants as "Indians."

Some modern social historians have vilified Columbus for the subsequent exploitation of the Americas by Europeans. For these few, his voyages symbolize the brutal aspects of European colonization and the beginning of the destruction of Native American peoples and culture. 

Columbus is blamed for the enslavement of the native Indians even though it is undisputed that slave trade was a way of life in Europe in Columbus’ time. He is disparaged for the spread of disease even though science was ignorant regarding germs and disease prevention. 

When Columbus returned to Hispaniola (now Haiti), he was appointed governor, and, frankly, did a miserable job. Nevertheless, it is fallacious to fault Columbus for the negative impact of European colonization on the Americas. History is clear that other Europeans, and perhaps East Asians, visited the Americas earlier; it was inevitable that others would have followed. 

Columbus’ voyages triggered great European interest in the New World. Great agricultural exchanges between Europe and the New World resulted from his voyages. The Indians introduced staple crops such as tobacco, potatoes, corn and peanuts to Europe; Europe introduced wheat, apples, grapes and horses to the New World. Exotic discoveries, such as parrots and other species, gold jewelry and other precious metals were shared with Europe. 

Early Americans celebrated the blending of Native American and European cultures on the 300th anniversary of Columbus’ first voyage. Columbus began our country’s legacy - explorers settled America to establish Christianity and its free exercise, colonists were greatly influenced by the Native American culture, and native tribes exemplified the success of government by the people that our Founding Fathers desired.