I thought this was worth sharing with thanksgiving coming up. You often hear of thanksgiving being in honor of the pilgrims and how they made nice with the native americans while feasting on a turkey. Well, that may well be part of it, but the original intent of thanksgiving can clearly be understood by George Washington's proclamation.

Note that there are no misspellings below. That's how they actually spelled the words back then.

General Thanksgiving
By the PRESIDENT of the United States Of America
A PROCLAMATION
WHEREAS it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of
Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly
to implore His protection and favour; and Whereas both Houfes of Congress
have, by their joint committee, requefted me "to recommend to the people
of
the United States a DAY OF PUBLICK THANSGIVING and PRAYER, to be observed
by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favors of
Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to
eftablifh a form of government for their safety and happiness:"

NOW THEREFORE, I do recommend and affign THURSDAY, the TWENTY-SIXTH DAY of
NOVEMBER next, to be devoted by the people of thefe States to the fervice
of that great and glorious Being who is the beneficent author of all the
good that was, that is, or that will be; that we may then all unite in
rendering unto Him our fincere and humble thanksfor His kind care and
protection of the people of this country previous to their becoming a
nation; for the fignal and manifold mercies and the favorable
interpofitions of His providence in the courfe and conclufion of the late
war; for the great degree of tranquility, union, and plenty which we have
fince enjoyed;-- for the peaceable and rational manner in which we have
been enable to eftablish Conftitutions of government for our fafety and
happinefs, and particularly the national one now lately instituted;-- for
the civil and religious liberty with which we are bleffed, and the means we
have of acquiring and diffufing useful knowledge;-- and, in general, for
all the great and various favours which He has been pleafed to confer upon
us.

And also, that we may then unite in moft humbly offering our prayers and
fupplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and befeech Him to
pardon our national and other tranfgreffions;-- to enable us all, whether
in publick or private ftations, to perform our feveral and relative duties
properly and punctually; to render our National Government a bleffing to
all the people by conftantly being a Government of wife, juft, and
conftitutional laws, difcreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed; to
protect and guide all fovereigns and nations (especially fuch as have shewn
kindnefs unto us); and to blefs them with good governments, peace, and
concord; to promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue,
and the increafe of fcience among them and us; and, generally to grant unto
all mankind fuch a degree of temporal profperity as he alone knows to be
beft.

GIVEN under my hand, at the city of New-York, the third day of October, in
the year of our Lord, one thousand feven hundred and eighty-nine.