Thanksgiving is a time of year when we give thanks for how God has blessed us. But how much do you know about this celebration’s origins? Here’s the true story behind the holiday.
It all started early in the 17th century, under King James I when The Church of England persecuted everyone who did not accept the Church’s unquestionable civil and spiritual power. Separatists who didn’t want to be a part of this initially migrated to Holland and started a community.
For eleven years, they stayed there. After eleven years, roughly forty of these separatists decided to embark on a dangerous trek to the New World. They had heard of this intriguing place that hadn’t been developed yet. Although they were aware of the difficulties they would face, they placed a high priority on being able to worship God as they saw fit and live their lives freely.
In the autumn of 1620, the Mayflower set sail to the New World. It carried 102 people, including 40 of these separatists – the Pilgrims. William Bradford led the journey as they crossed the Atlantic.
Bradford established an agreement while they were sailing, a contract that set just and equal laws for all 40 Pilgrims, regardless of their religious beliefs – the Mayflower Compact.
They never had any doubts about making it to the New World. They thought that once they arrived, they would prosper. But when they did touch down, they discovered a cold and barren wilderness.
Half of them perished during that first winter, including William Bradford’s wife, from malnutrition, illness, and exposure to the weather. When spring eventually arrived, they encountered the Wampanoag Indians, who assisted them in planting corn and fishing for cod. But even at this point, even with this level of support from the Native Americans, prosperity hadn’t yet materialized.
In some textbooks, Thanksgiving is described as a celebration during which the Pilgrims thanked the Indians for saving their lives. Even though such an event did take place, the Pilgrims’ celebration of Thanksgiving was a sincere act of thanksgiving to God for their survival.
Now, the Pilgrims lacked the resources necessary to make this journey alone. They were supported by business sponsors in Holland and London. Additionally, these sponsors insisted that all the goods the Pilgrims produced in the New World be stored in a single bank or common store. Everyone in the community of Pilgrims was entitled to one share.
The Pilgrim community’s governor, William Bradford, saw that giving each person a single share of stocks in the community bank and store was not working. So, he made a bold move. Each family received a parcel of land. They were free to operate it and manage it in whatever they pleased.
Bradford and his community concluded that, without the use of personal motivation, even the most inventive and hardworking individuals had no reason to work any harder than anyone else. This is the true Thanksgiving story, and it should be told for many generations to come.
Over time, the holiday has become less about religion and more about family, food, and football. However, the true meaning of Thanksgiving – giving thanks for our blessings – is something that we should all remember.
