Origin of this traditional American feast, in ancient and biblical culture, with some popular customs

1. THANKSGIVING – HISTORY AND CUSTOMS

2. HISTORY OF THE FEAST OF THANKSGIVING
In America, the fourth Thursday in November is celebrated as Thanksgiving Day. On
this day Americans give thanks to God for all the blessings they have received from Him.

4. In 1620 when the Mayflower
Pilgrims left their ship at
Plymouth, they hastened first
of all to give thanks to God
for their preservation from
the perils of the sea.

6. One year later, after incredible hardships and the
death of many of their number, the Pilgrims again
gave thanks, this time for the harvest they had
planted and which God had blessed for them.

7. The Indians brought gifts for the feast — five deer, quantities of lobsters and eels and wild
turkeys. We are told there were very few to prepare this feast for one hundred and forty
men.

8. Five women and a few young girls were all that remained of the women who had come
on the Mayflower, and this small band prepared the food for three days of feasting.

10. In 1789 the Congress of
the United States suggested
making legal a day of
thanksgiving for signal favors
from Almighty God, who had
afforded the nation an
opportunity "peaceably to
establish a constitution of
government for their safety and
happiness."
President Washington liked the
idea and issued a proclamation
to this effect.

12. Thanksgiving was proclaimed a National Feast Day
and celebrated even during the civil war

15. MORE RECENT HISTORY

16. Thanksgiving is the most popular
family feast in American culture.

17. Everyone comes home
to family on this feast day.

19. American troops celebrate with traditional turkey.

20. A traditional religious service
for the troops on Thanksgiving.

21. President Kennedy, pardons the life
of a turkey before Thanksgiving.

22. President Bush visits the troops in
Afghanistan on this feast day.

23. Turkey run in
Kabul by an
American trooper
on Thanksgiving
Day

24. No turkey spared for
the soldiers’ feast

25. This idea of giving thanks to God
when the harvest is in, is of course,
a very ancient custom.
Moses commanded the Hebrews
to celebrate a harvest festival, and it
is still known as Succoth, or the
Ingathering, and still celebrated.

26. There were festivals in ancient Greece
in honor of Demeter, goddess of the fields,
and of Ceres in ancient Rome.

27. The English
Harvest Home
feast is also
very old.

28. Deuteronomy 26,8 The LORD brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand and an
outstretched arm, with a terrifying display of power, and with signs and wonders; 9 and
he brought us into this place and gave us this land, a land flowing with milk and honey.
10So now I bring the first of the fruit of the ground that you, O LORD, have given me.”
THANKSGIVING IN THE BIBLE

29. Deut 8,3 He humbled you
by letting you hunger,
then by feeding you
with manna, with
which neither you nor
your ancestors were
acquainted, in order
to make you
understand that one
does not live by bread
alone, but by every
word that comes from
the mouth of the
LORD

30. Deut 8,17 Do not say to yourself, “My power and the
might of my own hand have gotten me this wealth.”
18But remember the LORD your God, for it is he
who gives you power to get wealth, so that he may
confirm his covenant that he swore to your
ancestors, as he is doing today

31. Thanksgiving in the Bible

34. Salm 100,3Know that the LORD is God.
It is he that made us, and we are his;
we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
4Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts
with praise. Give thanks to him, bless his name.
5For the LORD is good; his steadfast love endures
forever, and his faithfulness to all generations.

41. Philippians 4,4 Rejoice in the Lord always;
again I will say, Rejoice.
5Let your gentleness be known to everyone.
The Lord is near. 6Do not worry about anything,
but in everything by prayer and supplication with
thanksgiving let your requests
be made known to God.

42. John 6,32 Then Jesus said to them, “Very truly, I tell you, it was not Moses
who gave you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you
the true bread from heaven. 33For the bread of God is that which
comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”
34They said to him, “Sir, give us this bread always.”
35Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life.
Whoever comes to me will never be hungry,
and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.

44. TRADITIONS OF
THANKSGIVING DAY

48. We couldn’t
miss the
traditional
Thanksgiving
day game.

53. Thanksgiving day parade New York City

55. Now thank we all our God
with heart and hands and voices,
who wondrous things has done,
in whom his world rejoices;
who from our mothers' arms
has blessed us on our way
with countless gifts of love,
and still is ours today.
O may this bounteous God
through all our life be near us,
with ever joyful hearts
and blessed peace to cheer us,
to keep us in his grace,
and guide us when perplexed,
and free us from all ills
of this world in the next.
All praise and thanks to God
the Father now be given,
the Son and Spirit blest,
who reign in highest heaven
the one eternal God,
whom heaven and earth adore;
for thus it was, is now,
and shall be evermore.
Psalter Hymnal (Gray), 1987
THANKSGIVING SONGS
AND POEMS

56. THANKSGIVING
by Florence Earle Coates
NOW gracious plenty rules the board,
And in the purse is gold;
By multitudes in glad accord
Thy giving is extolled.
Ah, suffer me to thank Thee, Lord,
For what thou dost withhold!
I thank Thee that howe'er we climb
There yet is something higher;
That though through all our reach of time
We to the stars aspire,
Still, still beyond us burns sublime
The pure sidereal fire!
I thank Thee for the unexplained,
The hope that lies before,
The victory that is not gained,—
O Father, more and more
I thank Thee for the unattained,
The good we hunger for!
I thank Thee for the voice that sings
To inner depths of being;
For all the spread and sweep of wings,
From earthly bondage freeing;
For mystery—the dream of things
Beyond our power of seeing!

57. THANKSGIVING
GREETINGS