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The Christian origins of thanksgiving go back not to a harvest festival. They go back to a Last Supper

Thanksgiving is, in many ways, the quintessential American holiday. Its origins—an English non-conformist Protestant sect’s celebration with pagan Indians—hardly seems the stuff of Catholicism. Is the author then going to try to wedge a Catholic angle into Thanksgiving?

No. I’m going to argue that Thanksgiving is the quintessential Catholic celebration.

Why? Because we do it every day (except for Good Friday), when we celebrate the Eucharist. Eucharistia (εὐχαριστία) literally means “thanksgiving.” (No trademark infringement proceedings against Pilgrims anticipated.)

John M. Grondelski

Catholic Answers

For the first Thanksgiving in America, look south of Plymouth to St. Augustine, Florida.

Many people think the first Thanksgiving happened with the Pilgrims in 1621… but one of the earliest recorded Thanksgivings in America was actually held by Spanish Catholics in 1565!

When Spanish settlers landed in St. Augustine, Florida, they celebrated a Mass of thanksgiving, followed by a shared meal with Native Americans. While this did not directly evolve into the modern U.S. holiday, it remains a beautiful part of Catholic American history.

St. Joseph's Corner - 2:41 mins

A Catholic Prayer of Thanksgiving: Cultivating Gratitude at Every Table

The turkey is carved, the side dishes are crowding the table, and someone turns to you and says, "Would you lead us in grace?" The room goes quiet, and the words don't come as easily as you'd hoped.

A good thanksgiving prayer Catholic families can say together doesn't need to be long or polished. It only needs to be honest. Catholics also carry a quiet secret into every Thanksgiving Day: the word Eucharist comes from the Greek eucharistia, which means "thanksgiving." Every time we gather for Mass, we're already doing what the holiday points toward, only more fully.

Betsy Orr

Heritage