Sentence:  Hester Earle and Violet Wayne were moving about the aisle with bundles of wheat-ears and streamers of ivy, for the harvest <WSD>thanksgiving</WSD> was shortly to be celebrated, while the vicar stood waiting for their directions on the chancel steps with a great handful of crimson gladioli. 
Meaning of the word marked with <WSD> tags:  A public celebration in acknowledgement of divine favour.