We love thanksgiving and there has never been a pagan overtone to it. It is simple. Thanksgiving is GIVING thanks to God. That may explain in part to why it is Minimized in our culture and hidden in education. The history of the creation of thanksgiving is surprising and unknown. (George Washington, John Adams, and James Madison) tried to set aside a National day of Thanksgiving. However official Thanksgiving Day came in 1863, after President Lincoln observed the tragedy of Gettysburg. The largest battle and most decisive ever fought in the North American continent. He wrote in, 1863.