The Religious Thanksgiving

The second tradition from which our modern Thanksgiving has evolved is the Puritan religious "Day of Thanksgiving" called by a religious leader in response to a special act of Divine Providence.

These Days of Thanksgiving were purely religious and the entire day would have been spent in church, with no feasting or amusements.

The third tradition is a special day of thanksgiving, called by a civic (not a religious) authority, to celebrate a specific event, such as victory in battle or the end of a war.

King William and Queen Mary of England proclaimed a Thanksgiving for victory over the French. Their Thanksgiving was celebrated (like our modern Thanksgivings) on the 4th Thursday in November, November 26, 1691.

Click HERE for the London Gazette's printing of the proclamation.

These three traditions gradually combined in colonial New England. A new custom was born : a special day of both prayer and of feasting, celebrated in family groups, and proclaimed annually by the Governor in thanks for general well-being and a successful harvest.

This New England custom was carried across the country as the United States expanded westward.

The tradition of a "civic Thanksgiving" for a special event continued, however. In some years, particularly if there was a victory in battle as well as a successful harvest, there would be two Thanksgivings!