Thanksgiving is a beloved holiday in the United States, celebrated with family gatherings, delicious meals, and expressions of gratitude. However, the moment November begins, the jack-o-lanterns are traded for candy canes and the turkeys are left behind. Thanksgiving has a rich history with traditions that are too important to overlook this holiday season.
The origins of Thanksgiving date back to 1621, when the Pilgrims who had settled in Plymouth, Massachusetts, held a feast to celebrate their first successful harvest. This feast was attended by around 53 Pilgrims and about 90 Native Americans from the Wampanoag tribe, who had helped the settlers survive their first harsh winter by teaching them essential agricultural techniques. This event is often considered the first Thanksgiving, symbolizing cooperation and mutual respect between different cultures. It was a peaceful offering, and a way to show gratitude, becoming a holiday to be celebrated for hundreds of years later.
However, the journey to the Thanksgiving known today was not straightforward. For many years, different colonies and states celebrated their own days of thanksgiving at various times, usually marking the end of the harvest season. It was not until 1863, during the Civil War, that President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed Thanksgiving as a national holiday to be held each November when it finally started to shape into the Thanksgiving most celebrate today. Lincoln saw it as a way to foster unity and express gratitude in a time of great division and hardship.
Understanding the history of Thanksgiving is crucial because it recognizes the values that the holiday embodies; gratitude, unity, and resilience. It also highlights the importance of acknowledging and respecting the contributions of Native Americans, whose role in the first Thanksgiving is often overshadowed. By learning the true origins of the holiday, people can appreciate the deeper meaning behind modern celebrations and ensure honor for all aspects of its history, as well as appreciating it for the holiday and traditions we now celebrate.
With the rise of holiday sales and early holiday ads, Thanksgiving is often rushed past in the hurry towards Christmas. However Thanksgiving holds a unique and important place in the holiday season—one that deserves to be celebrated for its traditions, food, and time to pause and reflect. CHS freshman, Caitlyn Neri, shares her opinion on why Thanksgiving does not deserve to be overshadowed.
“Thanksgiving is a one day holiday, you know, so, I think that it shouldn’t be overshadowed,” Neri said.”I feel like we should enjoy it and celebrate it and give thanks.”
Thanksgiving is special because it is rooted in gratitude. It offers a rare moment to gather with family and friends, share a meal, and show appreciation. At a time when life moves at a fast pace, Thanksgiving’s emphasis on togetherness and thankfulness serves as a reminder to slow down and connect meaningfully. It is a time to appreciate one’s blessings, acknowledge the year’s highs and lows, and enjoy the presence of loved ones.
Then there is the food, which is a big part of what makes Thanksgiving so memorable. The typical Thanksgiving feast has evolved greatly since the beginning of the holiday, but sharing a meal has always been one of the most significant parts of this season. Each family has its own twist on turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce, mac and cheese, mashed potatoes, or pies. Rushing through Thanksgiving means forgetting these delicious fall dishes, recipes handed down through generations, and the joy of preparing a feast together. Thanksgiving food brings cultures, families, and traditions together that might not connect without a shared feast to commemorate the holiday.
The traditions are also part of what makes Thanksgiving irreplaceable. For many families, it’s a time to play backyard football, watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, or go around the table sharing things they are thankful for. These small but meaningful traditions create memories and bring people closer together, making Thanksgiving much more than just another holiday.
Thanksgiving allows all to pause and appreciate what we have before the rush of the Christmas season. It is a time to reflect on shared history and the lessons it teaches about cooperation and gratitude. By remembering the past, the present can be celebrated with a better understanding of what Thanksgiving truly represents.
