4 Things We Love About Thanksgiving

A Fun Look at a Favorite Holiday

What’s not to love about Thanksgiving? Remembering the Pilgrims and Native’s gathering to eat a bountiful harvest together projecting a hope for peace among two very different peoples. A day President Abe Lincoln set aside “as a day of thanksgiving and praise to Almighty God, the beneficent Creator and Ruler of the Universe.”,*  in the midst of the Civil War. But these days it seems to me as though this very special Holiday has grievously been lost in the over-commercialization of Christmas that starts mid-October and is overshadowed by Black Friday shopping. So therefore, I invite you to join me in celebration of this significant day by sharing the wonderful reasons we love Thanksgiving.

1. The Iconic Parades on T.V. © Shiningcolors | Dreamstime.com – <a href=”https://www.dreamstime.com/royalty-free-stock-photos-macy-s-thanksgiving-day-prade-image17161408#res17144398″>Macy\’s Thanksgiving Day Prade Photo</a>
   

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   I don’t know about any of you, but when I was a kid, I really did not like watching the hours and hours long parade. My grandfather would call me down from my sanctuary…I mean room when he thought there was something on that may interest me. So I would grudgingly stomp downstairs, mope into the kitchen where he had the T.V. on, sigh heavily to let him know just how bothered I was, look to see what was all-so-important that he disturbed me only to find the spectacular item he wanted me to see had long-since past. I look back and have to laugh because now my husband and I do the exact same thing to our kids and they respond with the same disinterest I did. These days I love the parade and watching the bundled-up celebrities lip-sync in the typically freezing morning as well as the top-notch High School Marching Bands from around the country make their way down the crowd-lined streets. And don’t forget the impressive balloons that are stories high (hope there’s not a strong wind!), the intricately designed floats with the exciting grand finale with Santa, Mrs. Claus and his reindeer and elves ushering in the Christmas Season. But honestly, love them or hate them, is there any other way to kick off the day than to turn on the television to whatever parade you traditionally watch while you hustle around the kitchen?

2. Football. Once the parade is over, the channel is immediately changed to the favorite team that is about to come on. How and why Thanksgiving Day became such a vital day in the realm of football I don’t know but for our family (and many others I know as well) it’s not only the football game on T.V. that’s all-so-important but the one that takes place in the backyard. Our family football game is so important that it has taken precedence over the meal. Rain or shine the very large gathering which averages 25-30 people will be out in the yard playing as if they are in the NFL and every touchdown is to win the Super Bowl. Good times!
3. The Food.
   

   Photo Credit:Gabriel Garcia Marengo

   

   Photo Credit: Annie Spratt

   Let’s face it; What would Thanksgiving be without the mouth-watering aroma of turkey cooking all day mingling with the sweet smell of pumpkin and/or apple pies? Everyone has a favorite dish that makes Thanksgiving Dinner Thanksgiving Dinner. Without this dish the meal is a bust. What’s your favorite? (Share your “must-have” dish in the comments below!)

4. Gathering of Loved Ones.

It’s not the most travelled Holiday of the year without reason. Seeing family and loved ones to celebrate with and give thanks together for the year of blessings is important. We were created for family, for community. Whoever you celebrate with don’t forget to treasure the time together and remember to give thanks for them in your life. A thankful heart helps us appreciate those we gather with. Maybe this Season, we can take a moment and do as the Pilgrims and Natives did and set aside our differences, celebrate the blessings of the past year and strive to be peacemakers who sow in peace and reap a harvest of righteousness.

Happy Thanksgiving! May we all celebrate with a thankful heart and remember these moments to treasure.

*(Quote from Proclamation: Source: http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/?pid=69998)