The first Pilgrim Thanksgiving in 1621 with Samoset, Squanto and their Indian friends was not the most dramatic Pilgrim Thanksgiving. During that summer the Pilgrims suffered both a severe and extended drought. Knowing the gravity of the situation, if there was no change of weather, there would be no harvest. With a poor harvest, the winter would bring starvation and death in their families. Governor William Bradford gathered the Pilgrims together for a time of prayer and fasting.
Shortly thereafter, a gentle rain began to fall. Here are Governor Bradford’s words in his History of Plymouth Plantation:
[The rain] came without either wind or thunder or any violence, and by degrees in abundance, as that ye earth was thoroughly wet and soaked therewith, which did so apparently revive and quicken ye decayed corn and other fruits as was wonderful to see, and made ye Indians astonished to behold; and afterwards the Lord sent them such seasonable showers, with interchange of fair warm weather as, through His blessing, caused a fruitful and liberal harvest, to their no small comfort and rejoicing.
The rain saved the corn. One of the Indians who observed this miracle remarked:
Now I see that the Englishman’s God is a good God; for he hath heard you, and sent you rain, and that without such tempest and thunder as we used to have with our rain; which after our Powwowing for it, breaks down the corn; whereas your corn stands whole and good still; surely, your God is a good God.
That rain broke the drought and resulted in an abundant harvest. As the Pilgrims practiced Thanksgiving, other New England colonies began to establish the same tradition. May we always be a thankful people. Have a great Thanksgiving!