The first Thanksgiving in America actually took place in 1598, in Texas. Spanish pioneers marched north from Mexico to Texas for three months. They camped in what is now the city of El Paso, Texas. Don Juan de Oñate had Franciscan priests celebrate mass. After the mass, the priests blessed a huge feast of fish, ducks, cranes, and geese. Six hundred Spanish soldiers and colonists ate and then played games, such as races, and entertained one another. Don Juan Oñate also kept a record book, or journal. In it he wrote about how he loved God and wanted to obey God.

Thanksgiving In the Bible

In the Bible, God gave the people a celebration to give thanks. It’s called Sukkot, the Feast of Tabernacles or Feast of Booths. Read about it in Leviticus 23:33-44. It’s a time to remember and again be thankful for God delivering them from slavery.

Nehemiah and the Israelites held a special Thanksgiving with a parade, feast, and lots of shouting, to celebrate restoring the wall around Jerusalem. Read about it in Nehemiah 12:27-43. The people, grateful for God, cheered, sand, and shouted to loud, that the celebration could be heard from miles away. It was at the time of Skkot, a time to celebrate the freedom from captivity in Babylon. It’s also a day of rest.

The Pilgrim’s Thanksgivng

The pilgrims who sailed to America on the Mayflower celebrated freedom of religion and thanksgiving after harvesting the first crop of corn. Squanto, a Native American, taught them how to plant corn. It became a yearly celebration. We should always thank God for all our blessings. It’s good to celebrate a special day of Thanksgiving.

Be Thankful

Pass out kernels of popcorn. Ask everyone to state three things to thank God for this year and drop them in a bowl. This may be gratefulness for family, friends, home, jobs, being together, and prayer answers. Use the kernels to make popcorn as reminders that just as air exploded the dry kernels into something yummy, so God can explode your prayers into something wonderful.

This is also a great time to take photos and write about your thanksgiving day. You may even want to start your own journal, or diary, about your life. Be sure to include notes about prayers and God. Read a psalm of thanksgiving like Psalm 100 and 

Native American Word Search

November is Native American History month. Quinnehtukqut was the original word for Connecticut. It’s an Algonquin word that means beside the long river. Many states come from Native American words. Match the state names with the Indian meaning.

1. Wisconsin                                                 a. Land of the Indians

2. Massachusetts                                     b. Land that is not an island, or great lands

3. Ohio                                                            c. Beside the long river

4. Indiana                                                     d. Red people

5. Iowa                                                             e. South wind people

6. Alaska                                                        f. Gathering of all the waters, or great river

7. Arkansas                                                   g. Friend

8. Kansas                                                      h. Fine or good river

9. Michigan                                                 i. Grassy place

10. Dakota                                                   j. Large hill place

11. Minnesota                                            k. Cloudy water

12. Mississippi                                           l. Great water

13. Oklahoma                                             m. Downstream people

14. Connecticut                                         n. Beautiful land, or one who puts to sleep

Karen Whiting is thankful for her family and her books. Moms, check out Growing a Mother’s Heart to find hope, sisterhood, and engaging devotions.

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