Acknowledging Thanksgiving: A uniquely American holiday
Published: November 24, 2009
Updated: November 24, 2009
Thanksgiving Day is a uniquely American holiday. George Washington’s proclamation for Nov. 26th, 1789, told us we should set aside a day “to be devoted by the people of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being who is the beneficent Author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be; that we may then all unite in rendering unto Him our sincere and humble thanks for His kind care and protection…”
In good times and bad, we have thanked God for His blessings and, sometimes, for His discipline.
For Thanksgiving, Nov. 26, 1863, Abraham Lincoln noted our nation’s unlikely growth in the midst of the Civil War: “No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy.”
Thanksgiving Day has been an anchor point to protect us from drifting away from our nation’s spiritual safe harbor.
In declaring Nov. 26, 1896, as Thanksgiving Day, Grover Cleveland preached that, “The people of the United States should never … refuse to acknowledge with contrite hearts their proneness to turn away from God’s teachings and to follow with sinful pride after their own devices. To the end that these thoughts may be quickened it is fitting that on a day especially appointed we should join together in approaching the Throne of Grace with praise and supplication. … And let us, through the mediation of Him who has taught us how to pray, implore the forgiveness of our sins and a continuation of heavenly favor.”
We have used the day to remind ourselves that the most important thing we can produce is our national character.
Theodore Roosevelt’s proclamation for Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 26, 1908, admonished us: “For the very reason that in material well-being we have thus abounded, we owe it to the Almighty to show equal progress in moral and spiritual things. … Upon material well-being as a foundation must be raised the structure of the lofty life of the spirit, if this Nation is properly to fulfil its great mission and to accomplish all that we so ardently hope and desire.
“The things of the body are good; the things of the intellect better; the best of all are the things of the soul; for, in the nation as in the individual, in the long run it is character that counts.”
It has been a day for us to recall that every bit of our greatness is dependant upon our fidelity to God.
Franklin D. Roosevelt began the proclamation for Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 26, 1942, with the opening from Psalm 92: “‘It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord.’”
“Across the uncertain ways of space and time,” proclaimed Pres. Roosevelt, “our hearts echo those words, for the days are with us again when, at the gathering of the harvest, we solemnly express our dependence upon Almighty God.”
FDR’s message for 1942 then recited the entire 23rd Psalm, from, “The Lord is my shepherd…” to “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.” Uniquely American, these Thanksgiving Day proclamations explain our past blessings and give us clear directions for the path to future ones.
Sharman’s column appears each Tuesday.
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Reader Reactions
Actually our Thanksgiving is not unique in traditions either, but if you need to tell yourself that it’s OK.
Of course it’s not secular for all. People can observer however they wish. But I think for a majority, most of the traditions are secular. At least I’ve never heard of anyone raising any church/state issues about Thanksgiving like they do with Christmas.
As an aside, with the increasing multi-cultural population in America, most of whom are wanting to assimilate, most have adapted some of their home country meals to the traditional turkey main course. Mexicans often add a mole sauce to the turkey to suit their tastes. I’m sure Thanksgiving dinner is not all the same, but the thought behind the day is similar.
Excuse me, “pickers” still, not sill//Silly me!!!!!
By whose definition has it become secular??? It may have become ecumenical but hardly secular..I believe people sill give thanks to God on this day if they don’t do it any other day.
Huh? Who’s arguing about whether the holiday is about giving thanks to God or whomever you want to give thanks to, or whether you just want to be thankful for the sake of being thankful, although plenty of people simply see it as a day to get together with friends and family and pig out and watch football on TV.
But how is it so very much different from the Canadian Thanksgiving? They even play football on their Oct. Thanksgiving too.
And there are dozens of other similar traditions at this time of the year that people take part in across the globe? While they may not eat turkey or thank the same God you do, they still have a lot of similarities.
rjma there are great many of us who believe Thanksgiving is a time to give thanks to God for the people in our lives and the food on our tables. Your on going need to agrue for the sake of arguing speaks only to your character.
Our thanksgiving is unique in its traditions. But I’m sure rjma will need to question and clarify that statement.
Our Thanksgiving is unique. We could go back into countless history, all the festivals of every nation, but the way we have ours, why and how, is unique.
Yes, you are picking. But RJMA of all people should know that when you have only so many words to put in an article, sometimes stuff has to be edited out. So, if this is you all’s big argument today, then you are picking. As it is clearly woven within all the quotes of the article.
Sometimes I wish we had a limit, so we would just have to choose the best of all.
Just a coincidence that it comes at harvest time? But I agree that Thanksgiving was historically a religious observation to give thanks to God, but is now primarily identified as a secular holiday.
I’ve looked and looked, but I can’t find ANY reference to a “harvest festival” in President Washington’s proclamation:
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General Thanksgiving
By the PRESIDENT of the United States Of America
A PROCLAMATION
WHEREAS it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favour; and Whereas both Houses of Congress have, by their joint committee, requested me “to recommend to the people of the United States a DAY OF PUBLICK THANKSGIVING and PRAYER, to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness:“
NOW THEREFORE, I do recommend and assign THURSDAY, the TWENTY-SIXTH DAY of NOVEMBER next, to be devoted by the people of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being who is the beneficent author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be; that we may then all unite in rendering unto Him our sincere and humble thanks for His kind care and protection of the people of this country previous to their becoming a nation; for the signal and manifold mercies and the favorable interpositions of His providence in the course and conclusion of the late war; for the great degree of tranquility, union, and plenty which we have since enjoyed;—for the peaceable and rational manner in which we have been enable to establish Constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national one now lately instituted;—for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed, and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge;—and, in general, for all the great and various favours which He has been pleased to confer upon us.
And also, that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech Him to pardon our national and other transgressions;—to enable us all, whether in publick or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually; to render our National Government a blessing to all the people by constantly being a Government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed; to protect and guide all sovereigns and nations (especially such as have shewn kindness unto us); and to bless them with good governments, peace, and concord; to promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the increase of science among them and us; and, generally to grant unto all mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as he alone knows to be best.
GIVEN under my hand, at the city of New-York, the third day of October, in the year of our Lord, one thousand seven hundred and eighty-nine.
(signed) G. Washington
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