Thanksgiving in the Colonies

Editor’s Note: In preparation for the 250th Anniversary of the American Revolution, the Four Rivers Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution (SAR) Member William Sanders is sharing messages of the impact of the war on today’s society.

According to the Oxford Language Dictionary the word thanksgiving means, “the expression of gratitude, especially to God'. A lot of people base their thanksgiving on very material things. Like whether there will be a trophy on Saturday, December 6, that says the University of Georgia on it.

The first Thanksgiving was a little different. People were just thankful to be alive. To look at Thanksgiving in the American Revolution, we need to go back to the beginning. Our very first Thanksgiving was in 1621. It lasted for 3 days. Some prayers were probably offered up, but it was not religious in nature. There were probably some southerners involved (people from Southern England). I say southerners, because it was more like a wild game dinner than anything. Funny thing is they didn't have turkey. The meat was deer, fish, and birds (maybe Pheasant or Quail). We would have been right at home there. Another thing that was missing was mashed potatoes, pumpkin pie, corn on the cob, and cranberry sauce. Our ancestors also sang, danced, and played ball games. The ball game they played was similar to soccer with a deerskin ball. With no tv or radio, how did they get the scores out? We later traded deerskin for pigskin and called it football. If you should be asked this in a trivia game, the first football game to be played on Thanksgiving Day was played in 1876. It was played between Princeton and Yale. Are they in the SEC?

Don't worry, we are slowly building to the Revolution. The second Thanksgiving was held in 1623, also in Plymouth Colony. In researching this column, I learned something that will forever change the way I think about Christmas. I hope your favorite Christmas song is not Jingle Bells, also known as One Horse Open Sleigh, because it was not written as a Christmas song. James Lord Pierpont wrote Jingle Bells in 1857 to be sung at Thanksgiving. I hope I didn't ruin your Christmas.

Now we are going to talk about how Thanksgiving was celebrated during the Revolution. Before and during the American Revolution, there were more days of thanksgiving than Thanksgiving Day. Individual colonies declared multiple days of thanksgiving throughout the year. The days ranged from giving thanks for military victories to praying and fasting (not feasting). All these days were primarily religious in nature. As the war went on, these days changed from something done on a local level to a national level.

They didn't have cell phones or email like we do, so it took a while to get word out. This more than anything else unified us as a nation.

On December 18, 1777, the Continental Congress declared a National Day of Thanksgiving to celebrate our victory over the British at the Battle of Saratoga. They called it a day of 'solemn thanksgiving and praise.' Once again the day was primarily religious in nature. One Continental Soldier Joseph Plumb Martin said they had little to eat, but had a service and a meal.

Most people give Abraham Lincoln credit for starting Thanksgiving as a national holiday in 1863, but George Washington prepared the way by declaring a Public Day of Thanksgiving on November 26, 1789.

Whether you have a little or a lot, have to work or you're off, there is something to be thankful for this Thanksgiving. Whatever the name of your favorite school is, I hope they win whatever bowl they're in. Take some time to offer up some thanksgiving as our forefathers did so long ago. Whether your loved ones are near or far, I pray you’re able to spend some quality time with them this Thanksgiving.

SUMMER READING CHALLENGE — Remi Bateson, right, and Beau Conner, left, of Wheeler County Elementary School each completed a summer reading challenge. Students were required to read six books and complete a review for three books. This challenge encouraged them to read throughout the summer. Remi and Beau each received a Chic-Fil-A gift card for their hard work.

William Sanders