Hello, Thanksgiving, are you out there?? Does anyone else realize there is a holiday nestled in between Halloween and Christmas?
When did Thanksgiving get lost in the hustle and bustle of the holidays? I mean, seriously, why has the one holiday at the end of the year centered around giving thanks started to diminish in our minds (and stores)? More than two weeks before Halloween I started to see signs of Christmas trickle into some of my favorite stores. As the days grew closer and closer to Halloween, more and more Christmas decor crept in and took over the “holiday” sections. Major businesses are saying, “Hey folks, forget about Thanksgiving…Christmas is coming!” Did I miss the displays of pilgrims, cornucopias, and turkey platters? Or the memo that we are no longer going to celebrate Thanksgiving?
Thanksgiving has and always will be at the top of my list of favorite holidays. I’ve never been much of a fan of Halloween. And I strongly believe the true meaning of Christmas is lost due to materialism. So, I cling to Thanksgiving. There aren’t any gifts involved with Thanksgiving, no take this and take that, or even annoying songs that get stuck in your head. Thanksgiving is, just, thanksgiving. To me, it’s quality time catching up with family members you may not get to see all of the time. Above all else, it’s a day to be thankful for what I have been given and for what I can give. I guess in a country that seems less reflective on the good, it makes sense that Thanksgiving is getting the shaft.
What is Thanksgiving?
The first official proclamation for Thanksgiving was given by President George Washington on November 26, 1789. According to Washington, this day would be “a day of public thanksgiving and prayer to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favours of Almighty God.” Not sure how this proclamation would go over in today’s politically correct society, but it resonated with the hearts of Americans at the time and the tradition has continued.
Continuing the Tradition
In a world full of chaos and uncertainty, we should be thankful. Be thankful for the family that you could be with and those you couldn’t. Be thankful for friends. Be thankful for our children. Be thankful for the food on your table, the roof over your head, and the clean water you get to drink. Take time to slow down and just be thankful.
From my family to yours, Happy Thanksgiving!
