Posted on 11/27/2025 9:48:07 AM PST by artichokegrower
George Washington’s Thanksgiving Proclamation in 1789 laid the foundation for thanksgiving celebrations on the last Thursday of November. While an annual thanksgiving holiday would not become a federal holiday until 1863 under a proclamation of Abraham Lincoln, Washington’s ideas for such a holiday led to advocacy for it to become a federal holiday throughout the nineteenth century.
(Excerpt) Read more at californiaglobe.com ...
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 favor—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 thanksgiving and prayer to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many 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 26th 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 which we experienced in the course and conclusion of the late war—for the great degree of tranquillity, union, and plenty, which we have since enjoyed—for the peaceable and rational manner, in which we have been enabled 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 favors which he hath 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 public 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 government, peace, and concord—To promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the encrease 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.
George Washington
Great post. Yesterday I sent this to nearly everyone on my email list. Today I’ll send Lincoln’s proclamation.
Thank you. I put it on my FB page.
Btw, this is the 27th of November, how’d it get off the 26th?
Thanks! Happy Thanksgiving!
Thanks for posting that.
Edited out:
“And letteth there be games of sport, in which young men perform mock battle over an oval of pigskin for the entertainment of the multitudes, in hopes that they may not be required to fight the actual enemies of our Nation. For this they should be richly rewarded, and their endeavors celebrated with much food and drink.”
Thank you for this post.
Thanks be to God for His providence. May He protect our nation!
Happy Thanksgiving to all!
Presumably, a Thursday was chosen for a four day weekend. Traditionally, English harvest fests were communal celebrations lasting several days more than just familiar events.
Bkmk
Thanksgiving tradition in my house is to have one of the grandsons read this aloud at the table.
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