Why do we celebrate Thanksgiving?
People in America celebrate Thanksgiving Day on the fourth Thursday of November. This day is taken as a legal holiday. People spend wonderful time with their family and friends and have the holiday feast. But in Canada thanksgiving is celebrated because of harvest in October As harvest comes earlier in Canada. So this day is being celebrated from many years. In 1608 some people from England moved to Netherlands to search their own church. They were called as pilgrims because their journey was based on religious reasons. But after years they realized that their children are growing up with the other country’s way of living land they had started speaking their language. Moreover their purpose to come there was not fulfilled. Now they decided to move to another place where they can live as English and where they could make their own church. In September 1620 they started their voyage to new world in the “Mayflower” where the London Company agreed to pay them for starting settlement and in
Although historical accounts have pointed to feasts of thanksgiving as early as 1565 in the New World, the celebration that has traditionally been deemed “The First Thanksgiving” occurred in 1621. In 1620, the Mayflower landed in Plymouth, Massachusetts. It held colonists, later known as Pilgrims, who had left England in search of greater religious freedom. Unfortunately, the Pilgrims arrived in December, and many of the new colonists did not survive the harsh winter. With the help of local Native Americans, they were able to plant crops in the spring of 1621, and thus enjoyed a bountiful harvest. With the crops assuring a better winter, the Pilgrims planned a feast of thanksgiving. It is this image of colonists and members of the Wampanoag tribe enjoying a meal together and giving thanks for the fruits of the land that has served as inspiration for the holiday to this day.
Have you ever thought WHY we celebrate that day? While Thanksgiving Day as a religious ceremony is not celebrated elsewhere as it is here, it did not have its beginnings among the New England colonists. But it did originate with our ancient ancestors, the Israelites. Those of you who listen regularly to this program know that we are the literal descendants of God’s people Israel. In their early history, offerings for thanksgiving were a regular feat?ure of worship among them. Certain feast days were set aside each year in which to give thanks—this was a national celebration. They brought the first fruits of their harvest unto God and gave thanks for his blessings. And in the fall they celebrated the Feast of Tabernacles, where much emphasis was put on rejoicing. In Deuteronomy 16:13-15 it says: “Thou shalt observe the Feast of Tabernacles seven days, after thou hast gathered in thy corn and thy wine. And thou shalt rejoice in thy feast * * * for the Lord thy God shall bless thee in a
Thanksgiving is one of the most favorite holidays. Who can resist the wonderful aroma of tender turkey mixed with the spicy savory smell of apple and pumpkin pie, bringing sweet memories and happiness? It’s the time of getting together. Of having a big family dinner together. But what is the true history of Thanksgiving? For centuries people have celebrated harvest rituals and ceremonies to express their gratitude for the fertile earth, crops and life. However, the first Thanksgiving Day celebrated was in 1620, when the first colonists sailed across the Atlantic Ocean to settle in the New World. Because they arrived too late to grow crops, their first winter – without fresh food, was very difficult and many people died. The following spring the Iroquois Indians taught them how to grow corn in the unfamiliar soil and how to prepare these unknown crops. In the next autumn, bountiful crops of corn, barley, beans and pumpkins were harvested. The colonists had much to be grateful for, so a
