Thanks and Praise
Proclamation of Thanksgiving
Washington, D.C.
October 3, 1863
This is the proclamation which set the precedent for America's national day of
Thanksgiving. During his administration, President Lincoln issued many orders like
this. For example, on November 28, 1861, he ordered government departments closed
for a local day of thanksgiving.
Sarah Josepha Hale, a prominent magazine editor, wrote a letter to Lincoln on 28,
1863, urging him to have the "day of our annual Thanksgiving made a National and
fixed Union Festival." She wrote, "You may have observed that, for some years past,
there has been an increasing interest felt in our land to have the Thanksgiving held
on the same day, in all the States; it now needs National recognition and
authoritative fixation, only, to become permanently, an American custom and
institution." The document below sets apart the last Thursday of November "as a day
of Thanksgiving and Praise."
Washington, D.C.
October 3, 1863
This is the proclamation which set the precedent for America's national day of
Thanksgiving. During his administration, President Lincoln issued many orders like
this. For example, on November 28, 1861, he ordered government departments closed
for a local day of thanksgiving.
Sarah Josepha Hale, a prominent magazine editor, wrote a letter to Lincoln on 28,
1863, urging him to have the "day of our annual Thanksgiving made a National and
fixed Union Festival." She wrote, "You may have observed that, for some years past,
there has been an increasing interest felt in our land to have the Thanksgiving held
on the same day, in all the States; it now needs National recognition and
authoritative fixation, only, to become permanently, an American custom and
institution." The document below sets apart the last Thursday of November "as a day
of Thanksgiving and Praise."
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