The First United States Thanksgiving Is CelebratedDecember 18, 1777

Today is the anniversary of the first Day of Thanksgiving celebrated by the United States as a national event. Until this time each and every colony had celebrated their own Thanksgiving Days—or not—but when Congress declared on November first

“It is therefore recommended to the Legislative or executive Powers of these UNITED STATES, to set apart THURSDAY, the eighteenth Day of December next, for solemn THANKSGIVING and PRAISE; That at one Time and with one Voice the good People may express the grateful Feelings of their Hearts, and consecrate themselves to the Service of their Divine Benefactor…”

they were creating an American identity.

The day was in celebration of the Continental Army's victory over General John Burgoyne and his 5,000 British troops at the Battle of Saratoga in October. But an even better reason for celebration had occurred the day before on December 17, 1777 and would be unknown to the Continental Congress for several weeks. On that day France officially formalized a military and trade alliance with the Americans. It was an alliance that spelled the international recognition of the new United States of America and the eventual success of the American Revolution.

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