Bullets for the Battle

Thanksgiving In America

It seems the first Thanksgiving celebration in what was to become the United States was a prayer service in Jamestown, Virginia, in 1619. The most storied of early Thanksgivings was that of Plymouth plantation after its first successful harvest in 1621. A participant, Edward Winslow, left us the following account:

“Our harvest being gotten in, our Governor sent four men on fowling, so that we might after a special manner rejoice together after we had gathered the fruit of our labor. They four in one day killed as much fowl as, with a little help beside, served the company almost a week. At which time, amongst other recreations, we exercised our arms, many of the Indians coming among us, and among the rest their greatest King Massasoit, with some ninety men, whom for three days we entertained and feasted, and they went out and killed fiver deer, which they brought to the plantation and bestowed on our governor, and upon the captain, and others.”

There were many days of Thanksgiving declared in the early history of the colonies and the nation they became but it was not until 1863 that President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed an annual, nationwide Thanksgiving Day. The date for this remembrance was finally fixed as the 4^th Thursday in November by Congress in 1941.

He who offers a sacrifice of thanksgiving honors Me; And to him who orders his way aright I shall show the salvation of God. Psalm 50:23

From all the Ventures for Christ staff; may you joyful celebrate all the Lord has done for you this past year.