Why Thanksgiving Can Be Traced Back to Pagan Traditions

Thanksgiving is a holiday widely celebrated in the United States and Canada. It is traditionally associated with the giving of thanks for the harvest and blessings of the past year. However, some argue that Thanksgiving has origins in pagan festivities. One of the reasons Thanksgiving is considered a pagan holiday is its connection to harvest festivals celebrated by ancient civilizations. Many pagan cultures held similar celebrations to give thanks for a successful harvest and show gratitude to their deities. These festivals often included feasts, prayers, and offerings to the gods.

The service came to be called the Mass in Western Europe, derived from the Latin dismissal rite at the conclusion of the ceremony: Ite missa est – “Go, it is the dismissal.” The term is still used by Roman Catholics today.

The name itself comes from the ancient Greek word for thanksgiving, eucharistia, although in part of the New Testament it is also called the breaking of bread. Most Americans, however, immediately associate our thanksgiving celebration with the Pilgrims and their journey across the Atlantic on the Mayflower in search of a new land and religious freedom.

These festivals often included feasts, prayers, and offerings to the gods. Another reason for Thanksgiving being labeled as a pagan holiday is its association with nature and the changing seasons. Paganism is known for its reverence of nature and the cycles of life.

Why we should not celebrate Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving Day is generally taught as an acceptable holiday to celebrate in the larger congregations of God. But this acceptance is based primarily on the belief that the Pilgrims created Thanksgiving. But the origins of Thanksgiving are a combination of superstition, myths and false Christianity, similar to Christmas, Easter, Halloween.

Summary of this paper

1. Thanksgiving was not started by the Pilgrims, this is now a well known fact, and is widely reported by historians as a myth
2. Two separate thanksgiving celebrations were brought to America, one a religious event, the other was a harvest festival
3. The harvest festival was a pagan celebration, the religious thanksgiving was from the Church of England
4. The King of England proclaimed days of thanksgiving during the American colonial period, without the influence of Pilgrims or Puritans
5. In the 1800s Sarah Hale marketed the idea of a universal national American thanksgiving holiday that combined the religious thanksgivings with the harvest festival thanksgivings
6. Sarah Hale specifically and repeatedly stated that she intended to combine God's harvest festivals with Thanksgiving Day
7. The cornucopia is a Greek & Roman religious symbol that can be traced back directly to the time of Jesus and further into the past
8. Removing the pagan elements does not change the pagan origins of any holiday
9. Our current justifications for observing Thanksgiving Day are based on misinformation and myths

Similarly, Thanksgiving coincides with the autumn season when nature displays its vibrant colors and the last harvest is gathered. This connection to nature aligns with the pagan belief in the divine presence within the natural world. Furthermore, the symbolism of Thanksgiving, such as the cornucopia or horn of plenty, has roots in pagan mythology. The cornucopia is a symbol of abundance and fertility, often associated with pagan goddesses of harvest and abundance. This connection to pagan symbolism further supports the argument that Thanksgiving has pagan origins. However, it is important to note that Thanksgiving as celebrated today is predominantly a secular holiday in which people express gratitude for their blessings, spend time with family and friends, and enjoy a festive meal. Its historical roots in pagan celebrations do not necessarily diminish its significance or value to individuals who celebrate it as a time of thankfulness and reflection. Ultimately, the perception of Thanksgiving as a pagan holiday is subjective and may vary among individuals based on their beliefs and cultural interpretations..

Reviews for "Thanksgiving: A Pagan Holiday Disguised as a National Tradition"

1. John - 1 star

As someone who does not believe in the pagan origins of Thanksgiving, I found this book to be incredibly misleading and poorly researched. The author presented a few theories without sufficient evidence, and it felt more like a conspiracy theory than a well-supported argument. I was hoping for a well-balanced analysis, but instead, I found biased and sensationalized claims. Overall, this book did not meet my expectations.

2. Sarah - 2 stars

I picked up this book expecting to learn about the historical roots of Thanksgiving, but instead, I was bombarded with baseless claims about its pagan origins. The author failed to provide any substantial evidence or credible sources to support their argument, which made it hard for me to take this book seriously. The writing style was also unappealing, filled with repetitive statements and convoluted explanations. I would not recommend this book to anyone seeking an accurate and well-researched account of Thanksgiving.

3. Michael - 1 star

I was thoroughly disappointed with this book. Its premise of Thanksgiving being a pagan holiday intrigued me, but the content failed to deliver any compelling evidence to support this claim. The author seemed more interested in pushing their own agenda rather than providing a balanced analysis. The lack of credible citations and clear reasoning made it difficult for me to trust the information presented in this book. I would advise readers to seek alternative sources for a comprehensive understanding of Thanksgiving's origins.

Did you know? Thanksgiving Has Pagan Roots