Now, therefore, I do recommend and assign Thursday, the 26th day of November next, to be devoted by the people of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being who is the beneficent author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be. –George Washington's Thanksgiving Proclamation, October 3, 1789

Since George Washington's Thanksgiving proclamation in 1789, Thanksgiving has become a national holiday in the United States. In fact, the tradition of Thanksgiving has its roots in the harvest festivals, celebrated worldwide as agricultural holidays to mark the bountiful harvests. It is an ancient cultural tradition with origins dating back to ancient Rome with their festival dedicated to the agricultural god. Some historians believe that many customs of the Roman festival were adapted for Christmas after the Roman Empire was Christianized. For example, the Christmas tree has its origins in the harvest tree of the festival.

Festivities during these holidays include animal sacrifices at the temples of agricultural deities, grand public feasts and celebrations in squares, and the exchange of gifts.

Due to variations in climate and crops grown in different regions, harvest festivals and, consequently, Thanksgiving celebrations occur on different dates in various countries. In the United States, Thanksgiving falls on the fourth Thursday of November. In Canada, it's celebrated on the second Monday in October, while in Australia, it's observed on the fourth Thursday in November.

Here are some of my favorite Thanksgiving quotes to share with you. Wishing everyone a happy Thanksgiving!

Without gratitude, there is no true virtue. - Jean-Jacques Rousseau

Jean-Jacques Rousseau was a French Enlightenment philosopher who experienced numerous hardships throughout his life. His ideas have profoundly influenced human thought and societal systems for the past three centuries.

Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all others. — Marcus Tullius Cicero

Marcus Tullius Cicero is widely regarded as one of the greatest orators and most influential prose writers of ancient Rome.

Gratitude is a divine emotion: it fills the heart, but not to bursting; it warms it, but not to fever. — Charlotte Brontë

Charlotte Brontë, renowned for her novel "Jane Eyre," is a prominent 19th-century British novelist known for exploring themes like love, social class, and personal freedom.

I am grateful for what I am and have. My thanksgiving is perpetual. — Henry David Thoreau

Henry David Thoreau, though his name may not be familiar to everyone, has had a profound influence on some of the most iconic figures in history. His ideas have resonated with individuals like Mahatma Gandhi, John F. Kennedy, Martin Luther King Jr., and the renowned Russian writer Leo Tolstoy.

We would worry less if we praised more. Thanksgiving is the enemy of discontent and dissatisfaction. — H.A. Ironside

Henry Allen Ironside, often regarded as one of the greatest preachers of the 20th century.

Reflect upon your present blessings, of which every man has plenty; not on your past misfortunes of which all men have some。— Charles Dickens

Charles Dickens was a writer during the Victorian era in the United Kingdom. His literary work "A Christmas Carol" is profoundly classic and widely recognized. The 1951 version of "A Christmas Carol," in my husband's words, is considered one of the most worthwhile films to watch during Christmas.

Wear gratitude like a cloak, and it will feed every corner of your life. — Rumi

Rumi was a poet of Islamic Sufism in the 13th century. He is considered by many historians and contemporary literary figures as one of the most influential poets and philosophers in human history, comparable to figures like China's Li Bai and Du Fu, and Western poets such as Dante and Shakespeare.

As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them. - John Fitzgerald Kennedy

John Fitzgerald Kennedy, often referred to as JFK, was the 35th President of the United States, serving from 1961 until his assassination in 1963. He was known for his charismatic leadership, inspirational speeches, and his tragic end, making him a prominent figure in American history.

Thanksgiving day is a jewel, to set in the hearts of honest men; but be careful that you do not take the day, and leave out the gratitude. — E.P. Powell

E.P. Powell, short for Edward Payson Powell, was a notable American author and journalist known for his literary contributions in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

To speak gratitude is courteous and pleasant, to enact gratitude is generous and noble, but to live gratitude is to touch Heaven. — Johannes A. Gaertner

He is not a famous person, but I really like this sentence.

In our daily lives, we must see that it is not happiness that makes us grateful, but the gratefulness that makes us happy. — Albert Clarke　　

This is a not very well-known writer, but I also really like this sentence.