In most religions and cultures, special ceremonies and prayers of thanksgiving after the harvest of crops are common. The history of Thanksgiving in North America has its roots in the English Protestant Reformation traditions. In this tradition, so-called Days of Thanksgiving are celebrated–special blessings, seen as coming from God, in response to events considered acts of special providence. Also, a successful harvest, according to this tradition, is treated as an act of providence and requires celebration in the form of Thanksgiving.
