Did you know…the first known Thanksgiving took place on September 8th, 1565 in Saint Augustine, Florida when Spanish settlers held a Mass of Thanksgiving after arriving safely in the New World?
English settlers in the Virginia Colony held a similar day of thanks in 1619. Two-years after that, the colonists at Plymouth Plantation celebrated the most famous Thanksgiving, during 1621.
Yet, it wasn't until October 3rd, 1789, that it actually became a holiday, when then President George Washington proclaimed a day of Thanksgiving...but just for that year. In 1795, Washington again proclaimed a day of Thanksgiving, and President John Adams also declared Thanksgivings in 1798 and 1799.
After a decade and a half without the celebration taking place at all, President James Madison renewed the tradition in 1814, and even went so far as to declare the holiday twice in 1815! 
In 1863, President Abraham Lincoln finally proclaimed the last Thursday of November as a national day of Thanksgiving that should take place every year. Years later, President Franklin Roosevelt stated that Thanksgiving should always be celebrated on the fourth Thursday of the month - as opposed to landing on the occasional fifth Thursday.
May we ever be thankful for the blessings God has provided for us all!
Happy Thanksgiving!
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