I love the holiday season. Celebrating Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day with family and friends feeds my body, soul, and spirit. The history of Thanksgiving is especially deep in America, stretching back to 1621 when the colonists in Plymouth shared a meal with the Wampanoag people to give thanks for their first harvest. 

But the first official national day of thanks was established in 1789 by George Washington, when he  issued a proclamation:

George Washington then continues to say that we “unite in rendering unto him [God] our sincere and humble thanks.”

A Time of Prayer

The proclamation goes on to describe something surprising; this day of giving thanks also includes a time of prayer. 

“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”…”and also that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech him to pardon our national and other transgressions” (Archives.gov, 2019).

Imagine both houses of Congress working together to request a day of prayer and thanksgiving. That is indeed a thing to be very thankful for. 

The Original Idea of Prayer and Thanksgiving

The idea of prayer combined with thanksgiving was not original to George Washington. God used the apostle Paul to record the practices of prayer and thanksgiving in the Book of Philippians about 2000 years ago.

6 In nothing be anxious, but in everything, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. Philippians 4:6 WEBP

This Thanksgiving Day, perhaps we can start a new tradition around our tables and read George Washington’s proclamation and remember the foundations upon which this great nation was built. Then take time to not only give thanks for God’s many blessings, but also to pray, as Washington suggests, for the good of our nation, its leaders, and its people. 

If you feel so moved, please share your prayer for our nation in the comments section below.

Happy Thanksgiving.

By Mary Kane

All right reserved. 2025

You can find a complete copy of Washington’s proclamation at the following link: (Archives)

Works Cited

“Founders Online: Thanksgiving Proclamation, 3 October 1789.” Archives.gov, 2019, founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/05-04-02-0091.