by Jared Hardin
November 26, 2025
A friend of mine once described Thanksgiving as “the best and most biblical of holidays,” and I think he may be onto something. But what do we actually know about the origin and purpose of the Thanksgiving holiday? Let's look at Thanksgiving from three perspectives:
1. The Biblical Basis
2. The Historical Background
3. The Cultural Opportunity
1. THE BIBLICAL BASIS
The Bible contains numerous commands to give God praise, both privately and publicly:
Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving;
let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise!
— Psalm 95:2
Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise!
Give thanks to him; bless his name!
— Psalm 100:4
Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
— 1 Thessalonians 5:18
The Bible also contains many examples of Israel being called to a national time of devotion and thanksgiving to God. Some of these were regular festivals. Others were unique times of thanksgiving responding to some remarkable provision of God (See Esther 9:20-22, 1 Chronicles 16, and Nehemiah 12).
2. THE HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
We all know that our American celebration of Thanksgiving finds its roots with the pilgrims who came to the New World aboard the Mayflower. These pilgrims were English Separatists—staunch Protestants who wanted to escape the religious and political turmoil of England to establish biblical, congregationally governed churches in America. They intended to land in Virginia, but ended up in what is now Massachusetts, landing at Plymouth Rock in late 1620. Several years later, William Bradford recorded What future generations may someday say:
What could now sustain them but the spirit of God and his grace? May not and ought not the children of these fathers rightly say:
“Our fathers were Englishmen which came over this great ocean, and were ready to perish in this wilderness; but they cried unto the Lord, and he heard their voice, and looked on their adversity," etc. Let them therefore praise the Lord, because he is good, and his mercies endure forever. Yea, let them which have been redeemed of the Lord, show how he hath delivered them from the hand of the oppressor. When they wandered in the desert wilderness out of the way, and found no city to dwell in, both hungry and thirsty, their soul was overwhelmed in them. Let them confess before the Lord his lovingkindness, and his wonderful works before the sons of men.”
— William Bradford, Of Plymouth Plantation (spelling updated)
Unprepared for the harsh winter, only 52 of the 102 passengers of the Mayflower survived until the next year. Of the 18 married couples who boarded the Mayflower, 15 of them lost one or both spouses. It was a time of unimaginable sorrow. Death was everywhere. Food was scarce. In the spring, the pilgrims made contact with the local Wompanoag tribe and formed a treaty. To their surprise, one of the natives spoke fluent English. They found that he had been taken captive by the English years earlier, brought to London, and then returned to his native land. This English-speaking Indian taught the pilgrims how to grow native crops, including corn. Squanto, as he was called, was viewed by the pilgrims as someone specially placed by the hand of Providence.
In the fall of 1621, a year after landing in Plymouth, the pilgrims celebrated their first successful harvest. 90 people from the Wompanoag tribe joined the celebration. The account was recorded in only two places:
"Our harvest being gotten in, our governour sent foure men on fowling, that so we might after a speciall manner rejoyce together, after we had gathered the fruits of our labours; they foure in one day killed as much fowle, as with a little helpe beside, served the Company almost a weeke, at which time amongst other Recreations, we exercised our Armes, many of the Indians coming amongst us, and amongst the rest their greatest king Massasoyt, with some ninetie men, whom for three dayes we entertained and feasted, and they went out and killed five Deere, which they brought to the Plantation and bestowed on our Governour, and upon the Captaine and others. And although it be not always so plentifull, as it was at this time with us, yet by the goodness of God, we are so farre from want, that we often wish you partakers of our plentie."
— Edward Winslow
"They begane now to gather in ye small harvest they had, and to fitte up their houses and dwellings against winter, being all well recovered in health & strenght, and had all things in good plenty; For as some were thus imployed in affairs abroad, others were excersised in fishing, aboute codd, & bass, & other fish, of which yey tooke good store, of which every family had their portion. All ye somer ther was no want. And now begane to come in store of foule, as winter approached, of which this place did abound when they came first (but afterward decreased by degrees). And besids water foule, ther was great store of wild Turkies, of which they tooke many, besids venison, &c. Besids, they had about a peck a meale a weeke to a person, or now since harvest, Indean corn to yt proportion. Which made many afterwards write so largly of their plenty hear to their freinds in England, which were not fained, but true reports."
— William Bradford, Of Plymouth Plantation
3. THE CULTURAL OPPORTUNITY
Thanksgiving is interesting because it has never been a “church” holiday. It has always been a “state” holiday — a day set aside by the government for thanking God. This was practiced regularly in New England throughout the colonial days. In his first year as President, George Washington issued a proclamation that a day of thanksgiving be held on Thursday, November 26:
“Whereas it is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey his will, to be grateful for his benefits, and humbly to implore his protection and favor—and whereas both Houses of Congress have by their joint Committee requested me to recommend to the People of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many signal favors of Almighty God especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness.”
While this holiday was celebrated by many Americans each year, it was Abraham Lincoln who officially made it an annual federal holiday.
Because Thanksgiving is a “state” holiday rather than a “church” holiday, Christians and non-Christians alike celebrate much the same way. This is an excellent opportunity for evangelism. It’s common to ask people what they’re thankful for. People will list their family, home, good health, etc. But a great evangelistic question to ask is, “Who are you thankful to?” The very existence of Thanksgiving means that we are giving thanks to someone, and that someone is God. You can continue the conversation by sharing that what you’re thankful for above all else is that Jesus came to live and die for you, and that through him, you have the promise of eternal life! What an easy way to share the gospel!
Sources
National Archives webpage. “Thanksgiving: Historical Perspectives” 2022. https://visit.archives.gov/whats-on/explore-exhibits/thanksgiving-historical-perspectives
The Mayflower Papers: Selected Writings of Colonial New England, Penguin Classics 2007.
“Thanksgiving Proclamation of 1789,” mountvernon.org, Primary Source Collection.
“Who Were the Pilgrims?” Plimoth Patuxet Museums, https://plimoth.org/for-students/homework-help/who-were-the-pilgrims