A Heritage of Thanksgiving | The Institute for Creation Research

 
A Heritage of Thanksgiving

Perhaps no other custom reveals our nation's original character as clearly as the celebration of Thanksgiving Day. Other countries have adopted similar observances, but America was the first to nationally recognize its dependence on God with a special day set aside for thanksgiving for His wondrous provision and deliverance.

Although the exact date of the first American Thanksgiving observance may be uncertain, there is no question that this treasured custom sprang from our deep Judeo-Christian heritage. From early Spanish expeditions in the late 1500s, to a small band of settlers in Maine in 1607, each group held services to give public thanks to God. Twelve years later, settlers in Virginia set aside a day of thanksgiving for their survival on the shores of this vast and uncharted land. And in 1623, Governor William Bradford created the most famous of all such observances at Plymouth Colony when a bounteous harvest prompted him to proclaim a special day to "render thanksgiving to ye Almighty God for all His blessings."1

In 1777, during the War of Independence from England, the U. S. Continental Congress set aside a day for thanksgiving and praise for the decisive victory at Saratoga, marking the first time that all American colonies took part in such an event on the same day. The following year at Valley Forge, George Washington declared a special day of thanksgiving upon receiving news that France had agreed to provide aid. And later, as the fledgling nation’s first president, he responded to a congressional petition by declaring Thursday, November 26, 1789, as the first Thanksgiving Day of the United States of America.

Since that first Thanksgiving declaration, many state and national days of thanksgiving have been proclaimed for a variety of reasons. But it was the tireless crusade of one woman, Sarah Josepha Hale, that finally led to the establishment of this beautiful observance as a national holiday. Her moving editorials so touched the heart of Abraham Lincoln that in 1863--even in the midst of the Civil War--he enjoined his countrymen to be mindful of their many blessings, cautioning them not "to forget the source from which they come," that they are "the gracious gifts of the Most High God" who ought to be thanked "with one heart and one voice, by the whole American People."2

In this spirit, ICR invites all Christians--not just Americans--to again take part in this beautiful tradition wrapped in the deep heritage of our shared Judeo-Christian ethic, and deeper still in our hearts. We declare our gratitude to God for the many blessings He has showered upon our ministry, our lands, and our people. And in this season of Thanksgiving, we are most grateful for our abundant harvests and the productivity of our industries; for the discoveries of our laboratories through the work of our researchers, scientists, and scholars; for the achievements of our writers, clergy, and teachers, physicians, businessmen, and public servants, farmers, mechanics, and workers of every kind whose honorable toil of body and mind rewards them and their families and enriches our lands. Let us then thank God for our families, friends, and neighbors, and for the joy of this heritage of thanksgiving that we celebrate in His name.

Let every house of worship, every home, and every heart be filled with the spirit of praise and gratitude and love for our Great Provider on this Thanksgiving Day. As the psalmist sang, "Unto thee, O God, do we give thanks, unto thee do we give thanks: for that thy name is near thy wondrous works declare" (Psalm 75:1). In this vein, won't you prayerfully join with ICR to see that His wondrous works are declared throughout the land?

References

  1. Governor William Bradford's Thanksgiving Proclamation, Plymouth Plantation, 1623.
  2. Proclamation of Thanksgiving, Abraham Lincoln, 1863.

Image: The First Thanksgiving by Jean Leon Gerome Ferris (1863-1930)

* Mr. Morris is Director of Donor Relations.

Cite this article: Morris IV, H. 2008. A Heritage of Thanksgiving. Acts & Facts. 37 (11): 17.

The Latest
NEWS
Microscopic Ingenuity: Stentor and the Case for Intelligent Design
What if the smallest creatures held the biggest clues to life’s design? A 2025 study in Nature Physics investigates the remarkable behaviors of...

CREATION PODCAST
Dr. Jeff Tomkins | A Scientist's Journey to Creationism | The...
ICR’s science staff have spent more than 50 years researching scientific evidence that refutes evolutionary philosophy...

NEWS
Early Fish Evolution?
The discovery of a new species of a plant or animal would probably not spark much excitement to the non-scientist. But in this case, the conditions...

NEWS
Make Plans to Attend Our Estate Planning Workshop at the Discovery...
Did you know that up to 75% of Americans over 18 have no retirement or estate plans? Don’t wait to prepare for the future. Join us on Saturday, October...

NEWS
Fossil Confusion in Ethiopia: Are Evolutionary Trees Built on...
A new study published in Nature describes the discovery of 13 fossilized teeth from the Ledi-Geraru site in Ethiopia. They have been dated to between...

NEWS
The Only Mesozoic Dragonfly in Canada—Is a Dragonfly
In 2023, an undergraduate student from McGill University discovered a new dragonfly species in Alberta, Canada. In fact, “This is the first ever...

CREATION PODCAST
Dr. Jake Hebert | Journey to ICR | The Creation Podcast: Episode...
ICR’s science staff have spent more than 50 years researching scientific evidence that refutes evolutionary philosophy...

NEWS
Oldest Evidence of Butterflies
Insects such as the ubiquitous butterfly belong to the huge phylum Arthropoda (creatures having paired, jointed appendages and a chitinous exoskeleton)....

NEWS
Another Big Mistake in Evolution
The strange and wonderful coelacanth1 has long been a challenge to evolutionists. The coelacanth has long been hailed as an ancestor...

ACTS & FACTS
ICR 2025 Resource Catalog
At the Institute for Creation Research, our mission is not only to conduct research demonstrating how science confirms Scripture but also to share this...