Our Founders initiated Thanksgiving, Notice how the original principles show Swami at work inspiring our Founders

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Thanksgiving Proclamation 1777

by the Continental Congress:

the first national Thanksgiving proclamation

IN CONGRESS

November 1, 1777

FORASMUCH as it is the indispensable Duty of all Men to adore the superintending

Providence of Almighty God; to acknowledge with Gratitude their Obligation to

him for Benefits received, and to implore such farther Blessings as they stand

in Need of: And it having pleased him in his abundant Mercy, not only to

continue to us the innumerable Bounties of his common Providence; but also to

smile upon us in the Prosecution of a just and necessary War, for the Defense

and Establishment of our unalienable Rights and Liberties; particularly in that

he hath been pleased, in so great a Measure, to prosper the Means used for the

Support of our Troops, and to crown our Arms with most signal success:

It is therefore recommended to the legislative or executive Powers of these

UNITED STATES to set apart THURSDAY, the eighteenth Day of December next, for

SOLEMN THANKSGIVING and PRAISE: That at one Time and with one Voice, the good

People may express the grateful Feelings of their Hearts, and consecrate

themselves to the Service of their Divine Benefactor; and that, together with

their sincere Acknowledgments and Offerings, they may join the penitent

Confession of their manifold Sins, whereby they had forfeited every Favor; and

their humble and earnest Supplication that it may please GOD through the Merits

of JESUS CHRIST, mercifully to forgive and blot them out of Remembrance; That it

may please him graciously to afford his Blessing on the Governments of these

States respectively, and prosper the public Council of the whole: To inspire

our Commanders, both by Land and Sea, and all under them, with that Wisdom and

Fortitude which may render them fit Instruments, under the Providence of

Almighty GOD, to secure for these United States, the greatest of all human

Blessings, INDEPENDENCE and PEACE: That it may please him, to prosper the Trade

and Manufactures of the People, and the Labor of the Husbandman, that our Land

may yield its Increase: To take Schools and Seminaries of Education, so

necessary for cultivating the Principles of true Liberty, Virtue and Piety,

under his nurturing Hand; and to prosper the Means of Religion, for the

promotion and enlargement of that Kingdom, which consisteth "in Righteousness,

Peace and Joy in the Holy Ghost."

And it is further recommended, That servile Labor, and such Recreation, as,

though at other Times innocent, may be unbecoming the Purpose of this

Appointment, be omitted on so solemn an Occasion.