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Meaning of Thanksgiving
Meaning of Thanksgiving - The Real Celebration
For many of us, the meaning of Thanksgiving usually includes feasting, four-day weekends, football games, floats, family reunions, or a forerunner to Christmas festivities. The 鈥渇irst Thanksgiving,鈥� however, was neither a feast nor a holiday, but a simple gathering. Following the 惭补测蹿濒辞飞别谤鈥檚 arrival at Plymouth Rock on December 11, 1620, the Pilgrims suffered the lost of 46 of their original 102 colonists. With the help of 91 Indians, the remaining Pilgrims survived the bitter winter and yielded a bountiful harvest in 1621. In celebration, a traditional English harvest festival, lasting three days brought the Pilgrims and natives to unite in a 鈥渢hanksgiving鈥� observance.
This 鈥渢hanksgiving鈥� meal would not be celebrated again until June of 1676. On June 29 the community of Charlestown, Massachusetts proclaimed a day of thanksgiving for their good fortune. Ironically, this celebration excluded the Indians, as the colonists鈥� recognized their recent victory over the 鈥渉eathen natives.鈥� One hundred years later, in October of 1777, all 13 colonies participated in a one-time 鈥渢hanksgiving鈥� celebration which commemorated the patriotic victory over the British at Saratoga. It would take a span of over 150 more years to establish Thanksgiving as we celebrate it -- George Washington proclaimed it a National holiday in 1789, Lincoln proclaimed the last Thursday in November in 1863, and Congress sanctioned it as a legal holiday in 1941.
Meaning of Thanksgiving - Expressions of Gratitude
The meaning of Thanksgiving has undergone numerous transitions -- an expression of gratitude for survival, a council鈥檚 recognition of its flourishing community, submission of the local natives, the defeat over the British, resulting in a collection of our nation鈥檚 traditions and values. Over the centuries, families added their customs to the Thanksgiving celebration, preserving that which they held most precious.
- To gather in unity 鈥� It is refreshing and invigorating when people come together, in celebration of a common purpose. It is a reconciliation of differences as well as a time of healing. In sharing our victories as well as our struggles, we find strength and hope.
- To teach the young 鈥� In stories retold, each generation brings purpose and significance to the richness of their heritage. Faded pictures, sentimental knick-knacks all form a Thanksgiving family legacy.
- To prepare the heart 鈥� In gratitude, we humbly reflect upon all the gifts (family, friends, health) that saturate our lives. By 鈥済iving-thanks鈥� we choose to extend ourselves and give to others less fortunate. Out of the abundance of our hearts, we are able to offer our resources to help others.
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