Thereligiousduty,andpleasure,ofthanksgivingtoGodwaswellestablishedinEnglandbeforeanyEnglishspeakerscametoAmerica,butitwastheAmericancolonialswhomadeafeastofit.Afterthesuccessfulharvestof1621inthefirstyearofpiousPlymouthcolony,GovernorWilliamBradfordcalledforacelebration.Butratherthanspendingthedayinprayer,thecolonistssetthepatternforfutureAmericanThanksgivingsbyinvitingtheneighborstoabigfamilydinner,withroastfowlasthemaindish.Itisdescribedinabookpublishedthenextyear:

　　Twoyearslater,afteranotherabundantharvest,GovernorBradfordagain"setapartadayofthanksgiving."Itwasquitesometime,however,beforeweAmericansgottheideaofdoingiteveryyear.TheearlyThanksgivingswerespecialevents,commemoratingtriumphoveradversity.GeorgeWashingtoncalledforthefirstnationalThanksgivingDayonNovember26,1789,aftertheindependenceoftheUnitedStateswasassured.ButittooktheCivilWartoputThanksgivingonthecalendarforgood,beginningwithPresidentLincoln'sproclamationin1863ofaThanksgivingDayattheendofNovember.

　　OfthecustomsestablishedbythepiousNewEnglandcolonists,allthatwestillcelebrateinmodernAmericaisThanksgiving.Thankfully,themanyculturesthatmakeupthemodernAmericancrazyquiltstillshareadaytocounttheirblessingsandeat.

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