November 24, 2022 – Thanksgiving Day
Thanksgiving, according to Wikipedia, is a national holiday celebrated on various dates in the United States, Canada, Grenada, Saint Lucia, and Liberia. It began as a day of giving thanks for the blessing of the harvest and the preceding year. Similar festivals exist in Germany and Japan. In Canada, Thanksgiving is celebrated on the second Monday of October, while in the United States, it falls on the fourth Thursday of November. Though Thanksgiving has historical roots in religious and cultural traditions, it has long been embraced as a secular holiday.
For most of us, the blessing of the harvest feels distant, as few of us rely on local farms or home gardens anymore. Instead, we pick up our food at grocery stores. Yet, we can still take a moment to give thanks for the preceding year and the food on our tables. Over time, many of the religious and cultural traditions associated with Thanksgiving have faded, replaced by new, modern ones. After all, few of us would relish the idea of hunting our Thanksgiving turkey!
As family structures and societal norms evolve, so too do our annual rituals. Some traditions vanish, while others adapt to fit our changing lives. Whatever the case, Thanksgiving remains a time to gather with loved ones and to remember those who are no longer with us.
Memories of Thanksgiving
Growing up, Thanksgiving was always a time of gathering for my family. Grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, and even that one quirky family member no one quite knew what to do with (if you don’t know who that is in your family, it might be you). I was always the black sheep—on both sides of the family tree.
Those days are long gone now. Many of the older generation have passed, and we are now the elders. The traditions we once knew have shifted with time, but our role is clear: to create memories and pass the torch to the next generation, ensuring that the spirit of Thanksgiving endures.
I have such fond memories of those early Thanksgivings—visiting both sets of grandparents, seeing cousins and distant relatives, watching holiday movies on TV, playing football in the park, and sneaking off into the woods to smoke a joint, thinking no one noticed (spoiler: they did). Later, we’d pile into a caravan of cars to drive around and admire Christmas light displays.
Looking back, those really were the “good old days,” even if we didn’t realize it at the time. Now, it’s our turn to help the next generation create their own “good old days,” passing along traditions, recipes, and love. Someday, they too will reflect with tear-filled eyes as they watch their grandchildren make memories of their own.
The Meaning of Family
Times change, people change, and so do the ways we gather and celebrate. Families aren’t a formula; they’re unique in structure and connection. Family isn’t always about blood, and blood isn’t always about family.
Our family is no exception. We’ve gained some and lost some, but we stick together and take care of one another. That’s what families do. Like countless others who celebrate Thanksgiving, we will gather with our loved ones for a feast, marking the start of the holiday season and welcoming the familiar bells of Christmas.
A Time to Be Thankful
This is the time of year to pause and be thankful for all that we have, no matter how small. There is always someone facing far greater challenges than the ones we navigate. Find something in your heart to be thankful for—even if it’s simply the fact that you woke up today. That, in itself, is a blessing.
Every day offers another chance to start over and move forward. For many of us in the United States, this is family time—however “family” looks for you. Make it as joyful and meaningful as you can.
As the year winds down and a new one approaches, let’s be thankful for what we have and hopeful for a prosperous and bright future. Then, go put up that Christmas tree!
Thank you for reading.
I appreciate you and wish you a wonderful Day of Giving Thanks.