Schwenkfelder Thanksgiving

When did the Schwenkfelder Thanksgiving start?

The first recorded date of Schwenkfelder Thanksgiving being celebrated on September 23 was in the year 1734.

About Schwenkfelder Thanksgiving Holiday

The Schwenkfelder Thanksgiving is a festive and joyous occasion celebrated by the Schwenkfelder Church every year on the fourth Sunday in September. This special holiday is set aside to thank God for the blessings that come from Him, especially the harvest blessings of the earth and the joys of family and community, and to seek His blessing for the year to come. The planning for this celebration of thanks starts months ahead when members of the church come together to prepare for this special day.

On the day of the Schwenkfelder Thanksgiving, a worship service is held at the church before beginning the celebrations. Family and friends gather for a potluck picnic, where traditional ethnic foods such as German potato bread, freshly baked pumpkin pies, and sauerbraten are served. Games and activities are also enjoyed by the attendees. The day is filled with joy, gathered around stories, music, and fellowship. At the end of the day, the members of the congregation express their gratitude to God in unison amid the prayers of thanksgiving for all of the blessings they have received throughout the year.

The Schwenkfelder Thanksgiving, September 24 – Introduction

Schwenkfelder Thanksgiving is a holiday that is celebrated on September 24th by the Schwenkfelder people. It is a unique holiday that dates back to the 1700’s when the Schwenkfelders were fleeing religious persecution in Central Europe and seeking religious freedom as immigrants to America. The first Schwenkfelder Thanksgiving was a way of expressing gratitude to God for providing a safe haven and a new home in the United States. The original Schwenkfelder Thanksgiving in 1734 was celebrated with a service of thanksgiving, a special dinner, and a day of rest from work.

Today, the holiday is celebrated with the same traditions around the world, although how it is celebrated varies from country to country. This article will discuss the history of the Schwenkfelder Thanksgiving, and how it is celebrated in its different countries of origin.

The Historical Context of the Schwenkfelder Thanksgiving

The Schwenkfelder Thanksgiving holiday is a unique celebration with a rich historical background. It dates back to the beginning of the eighteenth century, around 1734. The Schwenkfelders were a Christian sect from Central Europe (now Germany, the Czech Republic, and Poland) who belonged to the Anabaptist tradition. They were persecuted for their beliefs, and in 1734 a group of them fled religious persecution and immigrated to America.

As they crossed the Atlantic, they joined forces with the Mennonites and formed a new religious community. After arriving in Philadelphia in 1734, the group held a special service of thanksgiving to express gratitude to God for the safe journey and new home. From then on, the Schwenkfelders have been celebrating Thanksgiving every year on the same date – the 24th of September.

The holiday has been passed down from generation to generation, and today it is celebrated around the world in a variety of different ways.

How the Schwenkfelder Thanksgiving is Celebrated in America

The Schwenkfelder Thanksgiving is celebrated in America in a traditional yet unique way. The holiday starts with a service of thanksgiving in the morning, usually held in a Schwenkfelder church or meetinghouse. During the service, the congregation offer up thanksgiving prayers, hymns, and readings from the Bible. The congregation then share a meal, which over the years has developed to include the traditional American Thanksgiving favourites of turkey, mashed potatoes, and pumpkin pie.

In the afternoon there is usually a day of leisure activities. This includes traditional American games such as horseshoes, bocce, and cornhole, and special Schwenkfelder games and competitions such as Tröttetanz (a traditional Schwenkfelder dance) and Jambutschen, a Schwenkfelder version of horseshoes. After the day of activities, there is usually a closing prayer and singing of hymns.

How the Schwenkfelder Thanksgiving is Celebrated in Germany

In Germany, the Schwenkfelder Thanksgiving is celebrated with a mixture of the traditional American Thanksgiving and traditional German customs. The day starts with a service of thanksgiving held in a Schwenkfelder church or meetinghouse. During the service, the congregation offer up songs of praise and other prayers of thanks.

The meal usually consists of traditional American Thanksgiving dishes such as roasted turkey and mashed potatoes, but also incorporates traditional German dishes such as kraut, sausages, and dumplings. After the meal, the afternoon is typically filled with leisure activities, but the games and competitions are adapted to be more closely related to traditional German culture such as skittles (Kegeln), chess, and Schafkopf. As day turns into night, the festivities come to a close with a special service of thanksgiving and singing of hymns.

How the Schwenkfelder Thanksgiving is Celebrated in Poland

In Poland, the Schwenkfelder Thanksgiving is celebrated with a mixture of the traditional American Thanksgiving and traditional Polish customs. The day starts with a service of thanksgiving held in a Schwenkfelder church or meetinghouse. During the service, the congregation offer up hymns, prayers of thanks, and readings from the Bible.

The meal consists of traditional American foods such as roasted turkey and mashed potatoes, but also incorporates traditional Polish dishes such as pierogi, golonka, and golabki. After the meal, the day is filled with leisure activities adapted to be more closely related to traditional Polish culture, such as Krupnokan, a game where players must throw stones into a smouldering barrel, and gloskran, a game where two teams take turns to guess the lyrics of a song.

As the sun sets, the festivities come to a close with a final service of thanksgiving and singing of hymns.

Conclusion

Schwenkfelder Thanksgiving is a unique holiday that is celebrated around the world on September 24th. It is a day of thanksgiving for the Schwenkfelder people, a reminder of their past struggles, and a celebration of religious freedom. While it is celebrated with the same traditions in each country, the way in which it is celebrated varies slightly depending on the local culture.

How to Say "Schwenkfelder Thanksgiving" In Different Languages?