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Around the world, prayers of thanksgiving have traditionally been led by community or religious leaders to give thanks for a bountiful harvest.

It was in the centuries-old tradition of giving thanks that the Pilgrims sat down with the Wampanoag Indians for the first historic American Thanksgiving in Plymouth, Massachusetts.

Today, it's either moms or dads (or in some families, the kids) who begin a festive Thanksgiving meal with a special remembrance saying grace for blessings both big and small. Some families may observe a moment of silence, while others may hold hands as the prayer is recited.

While good fortune is a mainstay of Thanksgiving prayers, they may also include thoughts of the world's hungry and homeless. Some are light-hearted, funny, or completely ad-lib reflecting a family's own happiness or recent misfortunes, but most often with fervent hopes of a bountiful year ahead.

More about Thanksgiving prayers around the Web:

Thanksgiving Prayer - Nice discussion on the origins of giving thanks on Thanksgiving Day with tips on creating your own personal prayer, suggested Bible verses, a children's Thanksgiving prayer, quotes & literary references.

Children's Prayers of Thanksgiving - Lovely collection just for kids, and scroll down to the bottom of the page for lots of related resources.

Top 100 Thanksgiving Prayers for Thanksgiving or Any Day - Classic prayers, Bible quotes, poems and more with related resources.

Catholic Prayers of Thanksgiving - Dozens of before or after mealtime prayers in an alphabetical list.

Jewish Prayers: Blessings over Meals - Traditional mealtime prayers & rituals in English and Hebrew.

Verses About Thanksgiving - Apt Bible quotes from the Old and New Testaments.

Thanksgiving Poems - More inspirational, funny and serious Thanksgiving poems for kids.

Thanksgiving Quotes - Funny, though-provoking and classic quotes, poems and verses for the occasion.

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