Thanksgiving is one of the most beloved holidays in America, known for bringing families together to give thanks over a bountiful meal. But few may know the deep spiritual roots and meaning behind this tradition.
In short, the spiritual meaning of Thanksgiving is giving thanks for the abundance in our lives and recognizing it as a gift – not one we necessarily earned or deserved, but were blessed to receive.
Historical Origins and Meaning
The 1621 Harvest Feast at Plymouth
The first Thanksgiving feast is believed to have taken place in 1621 as a celebration of the autumn harvest by English settlers at Plymouth Colony. The settlers, led by Governor William Bradford, invited their Native American allies, including Wampanoag Chief Massasoit, to share in a 3-day festival.
This harvest celebration has been recognized as setting the foundation for the American Thanksgiving tradition.
Thanksgiving Proclamations in Early America
In the decades after Plymouth Colony’s harvest celebration, other English settlers continued to observe similar events to give thanks for a bountiful harvest. As early as 1676, certain places in New England set aside days for community thanksgivings.
During the Revolutionary War, the Continental Congress proclaimed the first national Thanksgiving in 1777 and again in 1789. Presidents George Washington, John Adams and James Madison also declared national days of thanksgiving intermittently.
Linking Thanksgiving and Spirituality
The act of giving thanks and celebrating blessings, which is central to the tradition of Thanksgiving, has Biblical origins. Many early settlers were devout Christians who brought this spiritual perspective to America’s first colonies.
Expressing gratitude to God is mentioned throughout the Bible, as in 1 Chronicles 16:34: “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.” For the pilgrims in 1621 and successive generations, thanking God for harvest abundance and life’s blessings grew into an integral spiritual practice.
As president in 1863, Abraham Lincoln recognized this meaning of Thanksgiving in the midst of the Civil War, calling it a celebration where Americans would bless and praise God for our wonderful country. His proclamation set the precedent for America’s national holiday.
For Americans today, Thanksgiving retains its spiritual roots as a day for counting blessings, praising God, gathering with loved ones and reaching out to neighbors in a spirit of unity and gratitude.
Giving Thanks and Counting Blessings
Cultivating an Attitude of Gratitude
Developing an attitude of thankfulness has profound benefits for our emotional and even physical well-being. Studies show that people who actively express gratitude tend to be happier, less depressed, more optimistic, and feel more connected with others.
Some research suggests grateful people may have stronger immune systems and lower blood pressure.
There are many simple ways we can cultivate gratitude in our daily lives:
- Keep a gratitude journal where you write down a few things you’re thankful for each day or week
- Say grace before meals to reflect on the blessing of having food
- Write thank you notes or verbally express thanks when someone does something nice for you
- Notice and appreciate the small joys in life – a pretty sunrise, laugh shared with a friend, favorite meal, etc.
- Volunteer to help those less fortunate and reflect on blessings you may take for granted
Research by positive psychology expert Robert Emmons found people who kept a gratitude journal for just two weeks exercised more regularly, reported fewer physical symptoms, felt better about their lives as a whole, and were more optimistic about the upcoming week compared to those who recorded hassles or neutral life events.
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Appreciating Life’s Gifts, Both Large and Small
Gratitude allows us to see our lives as a gift to appreciate rather than a right to expect. Both major life milestones – graduations, weddings, births of children – and simple daily pleasures – laughter, relationships, beauty of nature – become occasions for thanksgiving.
| Big Milestones | Small Pleasures |
| New job or promotion | Compliment from a friend |
| Buying first home | Seeing a vibrant sunset |
| Birth of child | Hearing favorite song |
Pausing to give thanks for our blessings protects against taking things for granted. Expressing daily appreciation for even little things like clean drinking water, freedom, or ability to learn reshapes our perspective. We recognize the abudance we actually have rather than focusing on what we lack.
Studies even suggest gratitude may boost dopamine and serotonin levels, motivating us to pay more kindness forward. So pausing to give thanks creates an upward spiral – improving our outlook and prompting us to spread more good! 👏
Sharing Bounty and Coming Together
Hospitality and Building Community
The act of preparing and sharing food has long been a way for humans to come together and build bonds. On Thanksgiving, this custom continues as families and friends gather around bountiful feasts. The meal is an expression of hospitality, welcoming others into one’s home to commune and give thanks.
Historically, Native Americans would share harvest feasts to foster community and demonstrate gratitude for the earth’s bounty. The Pilgrims who settled Plymouth Colony in 1621 continued this tradition, inviting the neighboring Wampanoag tribe to partake in their autumn harvest celebration.
This fellowship meal has become part of the Thanksgiving narrative about people from different cultures coming together in friendship and goodwill.
Reaching Out to Others in Need
Modern Thanksgiving festivities often incorporate an element of charity – gathering food, preparing meals, or serving those less fortunate. People engage in outreach efforts through community organizations, places of worship, schools, or neighborhood groups.
By expanding the circle of sharing and hospitality to include the marginalized, Thanksgiving takes on a deeper spiritual meaning.
In this spirit of generosity, many shelters and missions organize Thanksgiving dinners for the homeless and hungry. Veterans groups host meals to honor those who have served their country. Schools and churches sometimes “adopt” needy families for the holiday, welcoming them as honored guests and emphasizing that all should have the chance to celebrate this tradition.
Incorporating Thanksgiving Traditions
Foods and Decor That Celebrate Harvest
When we think of Thanksgiving, images of bountiful feasts, autumnal decorations, and family gatherings often come to mind. These traditions help us celebrate the fall harvest and give thanks for the year’s blessings.
By thoughtfully incorporating symbolic Thanksgiving foods and nature-inspired home decor, we can deepen our appreciation of the spiritual meaning behind the holiday.
A cornucopia overflowing with fruits and vegetables is a classic Thanksgiving decoration. This horn-shaped basket represents the abundance of the fall harvest. Other home accents like gourds, dried leaves, acorns, pine cones, and miniature pumpkins can remind us to be grateful for nature’s provisions.
The traditional Thanksgiving meal typically features turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, cranberry sauce, and pumpkin pie. According to historians, turkeys and pumpkins were likely served at the original 1621 harvest celebration shared between the Pilgrims and Wampanoag tribe.
These foods honored the vital crops that sustained the colonists through their first year in America.
Today, we carry on the tradition of preparing harvest-inspired recipes. As you cook Thanksgiving dishes, consider taking a moment to contemplate the origins of each ingredient. Reflect gratefully for the farmers, workers, land, and natural elements that brought the food to your table.
Ways to Make Thanksgiving More Spiritual
While feasting and football are beloved Thanksgiving pastimes, some families also incorporate meaningful practices to make the holiday more spiritually enriching. Here are a few ideas:
- Around the dinner table, invite everyone to share something they feel grateful for this year. Hearing what others appreciate can be profoundly inspiring.
- Light candles on the Thanksgiving table to set a peaceful, reflective mood.
- Take a nature walk together and observe seasonal changes with mindful presence.
- Volunteer at a homeless shelter or community meal service event.
- Watch a documentary about Pilgrim history or Native American culture.
Small connections to nature, family, community service, history lessons, and expressions of gratitude make the holiday so much more meaningful. Discovering new spiritual traditions or deepening meaningful ones you already practice are wonderful ways to honor the soul of Thanksgiving.
Conclusion
Though Thanksgiving has evolved quite a bit from its early celebration of a successful harvest, the core emphasis remains on giving thanks. When we take time to intentionally express gratitude – for our loved ones, provisions, freedoms, health, and lives – we come closer in line with the spiritual essence of this beloved holiday.
This Thanksgiving, consider the deeper reasons we have to give praise, what abundance really means, and how you can share your blessings with others.
