Changes

==Colonial==

==Colonial==

The earliest Thanksgivings were celebrated by Americans who were keenly aware that their blessings -- like their rights -- came from God. In times of hardship unimaginable to us today, they took time to give thanks to their Creator.the event is commemorated by a national holiday in November with its origins in [[Virginia]] at Berkeley Plantation on December 4, 1619. The first Thanksgiving was a religious celebration -- an occasion to thank [[God]] -- that featured only a modest meal. It wasn't until two years later, in 1621, that Thanksgiving was expanded to include a banquet by the [[Pilgrims]] in [[Massachusetts]]. Thanksgiving was the first uniquely American holiday.  

The earliest Thanksgivings were celebrated by Americans who were keenly aware that their blessings -- like their rights -- came from God. In times of hardship unimaginable to us today, they took time to give thanks to their Creator. The event is commemorated by a national holiday in November with its origins in [[Virginia]] at Berkeley Plantation on December 4, 1619. The first Thanksgiving was a religious celebration -- an occasion to thank [[God]] -- that featured only a modest meal. It wasn't until two years later, in 1621, that Thanksgiving was expanded to include a banquet by the [[Pilgrims]] in [[Massachusetts]]. Thanksgiving was the first uniquely American holiday.

 

==Washington==

==Washington==

In September 1789, Congress asked President [[George Washington]] 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 Constitution of government for their safety and happiness.” Washington complied. <ref>[http://www.cnsnews.com/public/content/article.aspx?RsrcID=40032 President Washington Proclaims America’s Duty to ‘Obey’ God and ‘Be Grateful for His Benefits’] CNSNews, November 27, 2008</ref>  

In September 1789, Congress asked President [[George Washington]] 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 Constitution of government for their safety and happiness.” Washington complied. <ref>[http://www.cnsnews.com/public/content/article.aspx?RsrcID=40032 President Washington Proclaims America’s Duty to ‘Obey’ God and ‘Be Grateful for His Benefits’] CNSNews, November 27, 2008</ref>