Article November 28, 1901 Issue

History of Thanksgiving Day

Harper's Weekly

The earliest record which we have of an American Thanksgiving Day is found in the New England annals of 1621. In the autumn of that year Governor Bradford, so saith the chronicler, sent out men to procure some game, in order that New England colonists might properly enjoy a day of thanksgiving in remembrance of the fruits of their labors during the year that had passed. Another day of rejoicing was set apart and "solemnized" as "a day of thanksgiving unto the Lord," after an abundant harvest in 1622. It is stated that, on this occasion, Massasoit and his council of braves were invited to participate in the festivities, and that they did so, spending three days in feasting. Evidently the Indian friends of the colonists found Thanksgiving Day a day to be made the most of.

These thanksgiving days were not, however, of official character. The first official public Thanksgiving Day was not until the year 1631; and even this day was not at first intended to be a day of rejoicing and thanksgiving. It had been set apart as a day of fasting and prayer for relief. The colonists were in great distress; famine was imminent; a vessel laden with provisions and long at sea, had not arrived. But just before the day of fasting came, the ship made port; and the day was then officially changed by the authorities from a day of sorrow to a day of thanksgiving. This was the first real Thanksgiving Day of the American people. Thanksgiving days were occasionally observed also in New Netherland after this date; but it was not until February, 1644, that another official Thanksgiving Day was proclaimed. That year Governor Kieft proclaimed "a day of general thanksgiving," the occasion being a victory of the colonists over the Indians. At the conclusion of peace, in 1645, another Thanksgiving Day was proclaimed. We are not told that the Indians were invited to this ceremony.

Occasional days of fasting, prayer, and thanksgiving were kept by the various colonists, at different times; but no general Thanksgiving Day was set apart until 1775, when the Continental Congress adopted the practice of designating such days. The first was Thursday, July 20, 1775. The following Thanksgiving days were also suggested by the Continental Congress: Friday, May 17, 1776; December 11, 1776; Wednesday, April 22, 1778; Thursday, May 6, 1779; Wednesday, April 4, 1780; Thursday, May 2, 1781; Thursday, April 25, 1782. These days were suggested in the form of recommendations to the states, whose governors were asked to issue proclamations to their peoples for days of thanksgiving. Business, with one exception, was suspended on these occasions. Washington also issued a proclamation to the Colonial army for a general Thanksgiving day on Thursday, December 18, 1777; and again on May 7, 1778.

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