A friend of mine posted this on her timeline explaining the true history of Thanksgiving. Sometimes we need to be reminded what this Holy Day is truly about. Thank you Lisa Dallas Turner: Thanksgiving is a holiday. Holiday means Holy day. In the old days thats how holidays originated, they were on Holy days. It is a day to give thanks. To whom else? To God. However Christmas has become a day of drinking, gifting and santaclaus. Easter has become a day for Bunnies, eggs and carrots. And sadly thanksgiving has become Turkey-day. But by fact Thanksgiving started as 3 days dedicated to give thanks to God. History In early 1600, Christian reformists where growing in UK. This was opposed by the State Church of England. These religious reformists were tracked down beaten, persecuted, tortured and arrested. They had to migrate to Holland to flee persecution. However they had issues in Holland too and couldnt survive. So they decided to migrate to the New World called the Americas. In 1620 September 6, around 110 members out of which 1/3 were children boarded the ship called Mayflower from Plymouth England. They started the journey with prayer and proceeded. The journey lasted 66 days of cold and storms at sea. They landed in MA on 1620 Dec 11. Just before disembarking at Plymouth Rock, they signed the Mayflower Compact - Americas first document of civil government and the first to introduce self-government :- In the name of God, Amen. We, whose names are underwritten, the Loyal Subjects of our dread Sovereign Lord, King James, by the Grace of God, of England, France and Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith. Having undertaken for the Glory of God, and Advancement of the Christian Faith, and the Honour of our King and Country, a voyage to plant the first colony in the northern parts of Virginia; do by these presents, solemnly and mutually in the Presence of God and one of another, covenant and combine ourselves together into a civil Body Politick, for our better Ordering and Preservation, and Furtherance of the Ends aforesaid; And by Virtue hereof to enact, constitute, and frame, such just and equal Laws, Ordinances, Acts, Constitutions and Offices, from time to time, as shall be thought most meet and convenient for the General good of the Colony; unto which we promise all due submission and obedience. In Witness whereof we have hereunto subscribed our names at Cape Cod the eleventh of November, in the Reign of our Sovereign Lord, King James of England, France and Ireland, the eighteenth, and of Scotland the fifty-fourth. Anno Domini, 1620. After a prayer service, the Pilgrims began to settle. Due to starvation, sickness, harsh cold, nearly half died before spring. The remaining half were saved by faith, determination, prayer and assistance by helpful Indians. A year later, they reaped a bountiful harvest the following summer. The grateful Pilgrims then declared a 3 day feast, starting Dec 13, 1621, to thank God and to celebrate with their Indian friends. It was Americas first Thanksgiving Festival. In 1789, following a proclamation issued by President George Washington, America celebrated its first Day of Thanksgiving to God under its new constitution. In 1941, Congress established the fourth Thursday of November as a national holiday. Below is the proclamation by George Washington in 1789 Oct 3:- 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 PUBLIC THANSGIVING 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, 1789. (signed) G. Washington Conclusion Thus it is obvious that thanksgiving is a Holy day to unite with love and give thanks to God for his abundance and blessings. - By Jai (All Glory to God)
Posted on: Fri, 29 Nov 2013 05:38:41 +0000
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