Is there any difference between the festivity of harvest and the Thanksgiving commemorate events? If so, why do we remember Thanksgiving only during the late autumn season? If not, how can we celebrate the harvest festival during the severe drought, when there is no gathering of the ripe crop from the fields? Can we observe Thanksgiving during the unexpected disasters or drought? Is there any direct correlation between Days of Fasting and Days of Thanking? Which event came first: is it the harvest festival or the Thanksgiving celebration? What are the significances of these celebrations in modern industrial societies?
For Americans, the fourth Thursday of November is a national holiday of Thanksgiving celebration. I believe this is one of the important celebrations in the United States. The Pilgrims and Puritans, that is, the Protestant Christians, who emigrated from England in the 1620s, carried the tradition of this celebration, according to American history. The Thanksgiving Day is observed in most families in the United States due to its deep-rooted culture to this day in the 21st century.
We understand since the 17th century to the present day, this historic tradition is carried in the United States culture by the patriotic citizens. Besides holidays, this important observance where we feel empathy towards others and make sure that “no stranger, sick, foreigner or homeless person” is being neglected, left alone or lives without food.
This holiday in America makes a person think and reflect on his or her life’s events of the previous years, and sincerely in simple expression thanks to God in prayer. If we recounted significant events of the past years, for the most part, it becomes a special occasion, not only in his or her life but also for the entire family and generations. This unique celebration makes us reflect on our life past years, and express our gratitude to God for all the blessings and joy in a person’s life and their families.
By reflecting on our American life with Thanksgiving Day celebrations, few thoughts crossed my mind along with the desire to know more about this historic festivity; therefore, I asked the questions as mentioned above to myself for answers, thinking this might help readers who may have similar inquiries.
The Thanksgiving observance, no doubt, is one of the time-tested festivities in American history. This occasion celebrated by families and communities in the United States since the time of agrarian societies to the modern industrial days. The Pilgrims and Puritans, that is, early settlers’ in America, according to the history, initially started this meaningful annual observance during the time of an agricultural society, and came to know as the “harvest festival.”
The harvest festival started in the 16th century, according to the historical records, but Puritans during the English Reformation replaced most of the Church holidays and decided to keep 2 special days known as Days of Fasting and Days of Thanksgiving. Amazingly, when I came across this information first time and thought to myself about the religious aspects of the harvest festival, and realized that these two events seemed “mutually inclusive” commemorations.
The evidence suggests that the early settlers in America, who belonged to the agrarian societies harvested their crops from the fields in September through end of November, and they understood both the natural and the spiritual principles, “the law of the harvest” as stated in the Holy Bible that is, “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap (Gal. 6:7 NKJV).” “I also withheld rain from you when the harvest was still three months away. I sent rain on one town, but withheld it from another. One field rain; another had none and dried up. People staggered from town to town for water but did not get enough to drink, yet you have not returned to me declares the Lord (Amos 4:7-8 NIV).” “You harvest less than you plant, you never have enough to eat or drink, your clothes don’t keep you warm, and your wages are stored in bags full of holes (Haggai 1:6 CEV).” Wow!
The early settlers knew the importance of the “harvesting” because of the realities of life and spiritual principles. We know that without a good harvest from the fields there is no food for us to survive, in spite of modern and digital technologies. Can artificial intelligence or robots produce real food for human beings? Of course, we need modern day tools and technologies for farming, but ultimately decent weather and rain in due seasons is required for a good harvest from the fields throughout the world for human survivals. And it is a known fact that only God can provide us with rain in due seasons so that every creature on this planet can survive according to “His will.”
Shockingly, drought is the primary cause for lack of harvests. Dreadfully, in recent years the natural disasters are causing dryness in many parts of the world, including the United States. The western region of the country is faced with severe to extreme drought, according to the United States Drought Monitor.
Moreover, few countries in the world are the most drought-prone ones, according to world news. For instance, the most drought prone-countries in the world are, as per the “Worldatlas,” Ethiopia, Sudan, Eritrea, Afghanistan, China, Pakistan, Iran, Somalia, Uganda, and Morocco, respectively.
Imagine how are people surviving in these regions in the drought conditions? I’m sure no one in this modern world would like to go through this kind of hardships in life. Therefore, we sympathize with people who are faced with drought situations in the world.
In my opinion, the Puritans who faced adverse events in their lives, including the drought, famines, and natural disasters, viewed these calamities of nature as acts of God’s intervention in the World. Therefore, they wanted special days known as “Days of Fasting.” They comprehended and realized that not every season was going to be an occasion for the “harvest festival” as the result of God’s discipline due to sinful human nature in His sight. Therefore, they believed in the Scriptures and followed the spiritual principles, which requires one’s repentance through fasting and prayers. This appears to be the earlier settlers ‘spiritual discernment; therefore, I think, there is a direct correlation between the “Days of Fasting and the Days of Thanksgiving (i.e., Harvest Festivals).”
Noticeably, the 17th century Protestant Christian settlers’ tradition of the Thanksgiving celebration is being carried into the 21st century, in spite of the great American Revolutionary (1765-1783) and Civil (1861-1865) War, and made this observance vital importance in the American history. Therefore, we the citizens admire their children and grandchildren, who provide us with the freedom to celebrate these special events in America.
Such as the United States first President, George Washington proclaimed the first nationwide Thanksgiving celebration in America making November 26, 1789, as a Day of National Thanking, according to the historical records. He stated that “a day of public thanks-giving and prayer to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts and many signal favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness.[1]”
Even President Abraham Lincoln in 1863 issued a Thanksgiving Proclamation, designating the last Thursday in November, explicitly in celebration of successes during the Civil War stating that “ the year that is drawing toward its close has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added, which are of so extraordinary a nature that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever watchful providence of Almighty God.[2]”
I’m sure the Thanksgiving Day became one of the meaningful events in President Abraham Lincoln’s life due to the nature of the Civil War. How can we forget the Civil War in the United States? I was amazed when I read about his leadership during the writing of my book titled “American Conscious Vote.” I admired his wisdom and bravery during the Civil War.
To this day, the Thanksgiving Day celebration in the United States is a meaningful event, even though earlier Protestant Christian settlers initially started this commemoration; however, I think, the modern days’ settlers in the United States, not only admire the “Founding Fathers” faith and leadership but also thankful to God, who provided the bountiful blessings in their lives in America.
I’m sure like me most of Americans who emigrated from other countries and settled in the United States are grateful to God for His grace and mercy for providing us once again an opportunity to celebrate the Thanksgiving Day in our lives. Therefore, we can humbly acknowledge and concur with our forefathers stating that “Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness. The Lord is my portion, says my soul, Therefore, I hope in Him (Lam. 3:22-24 NKJV)!” Enjoy the day with Thanksgiving. Shalom!
[1] First presidential proclamation: www. Loc.gov/item/Thanksgiving Day
[2] President Abraham Lincoln Oct.3, 1863 Proclamation: www. Loc.gov/ item/November 26