Have We Forgotten Thanksgiving?

The first Thanksgiving was celebrated in 1621 to commemorate the harvest after the previous brutal winter, but the holiday wasn’t celebrated by all 13 colonies until 1777. In 1789, George Washington declared November 26 a day of thanksgiving and prayer.

In 1939, 1940 and 1941, Franklin D. Roosevelt proclaimed the third Thursday of November as Thanksgiving. Following much controversy, congress passed a resolution in 1941 naming the fourth Thursday of November as Thanksgiving, as it is today.

Thanksgiving. A day to slow down and give thanks for our blessing throughout the year. This was the original purpose of the day. It is a time to reflect on our blessings throughout the past year and look toward the future. There’s no dressing up in costumes or exchange of gifts. There is very little by way of decorations these days. Just time to sit down for dinner with family and friends and talk about what we’re grateful for.

I don’t know about you, but it seems we’re rushed into Christmas. As soon as Halloween has passed, stores have Christmas decorations, gift items, and Christmas trees for sale. It’s Christmas everywhere you look.

Where are the Thanksgiving items? Where are they featured? Why don’t we see cornucopias, harvest fruits and vegetables, autumn leaves, or anything else reminiscent of the holiday?

Have we forgotten Thanksgiving altogether?

I saw an end cap the other day with table settings which could have been used for either Thanksgiving or Christmas. And I saw a display of baking goods featuring pie fillings of all kinds, which I suppose might have a bit to do with Thanksgiving. But there is nothing in the store specifically directed toward this day.

Are we so selfish today that, if there’s nothing to gain, we won’t bother with Thanksgiving? Since we don’t get gifts there is no point in the holiday?

Let’s not forget Thanksgiving. Let’s take the time to slow down and reflect on the blessings we’ve been given. Not monetary gain, but blessings of family and friendship, gatherings and celebrations of life.

Let’s return to gratitude and see what the future brings our way.