It’s Thanksgiving season! As many families skip straight to Christmas after Halloween, it’s easy to forget about this heartwarming (and delicious) holiday. However, when the fourth Thursday of November rolls around, people realize that it’s hard to disregard such a meaningful holiday. From savory turkey to sweet homemade pie, it’s difficult to decide what food is worth taking up space on your plate. Not to mention, you can only choose so many Thanksgiving Day activities to partake in.
The first unofficial Thanksgiving feast was held in 1621 between Pilgrims and the Wampanoag people to celebrate harvest. Much later, in 1863, president Abraham Lincoln declared Thanksgiving an official annual holiday to be held on the last Thursday of November. Even today, Thanksgiving is a widespread holiday focusing on time with family, friends, football, and most importantly, food.
All of this talk begs the question, which foods and activities will make your Thanksgiving Day the most plentiful?
A multitude of East students have strong beliefs on the most delicious and worthwhile things to do and devour on Thanksgiving Day, and believe me when I say their tastebuds vary. Although the votes were split, a majority of students determined mashed potatoes to be the best food to stack atop their platter. Meanwhile, the same students also believe that feasting is the best part of Thanksgiving Day. I can’t disagree with them, though. Who doesn’t like loading up on such delectable dishes every year? However, I’m more of a stuffing kind of person.
Even so, there’s more to the feast than eating. Imagine the amount of time and tender, loving care it took your grandma to whip up this hearty buffet. Imagine the families that might not get to partake in these festivities at all.
“I think the cool thing about Thanksgiving is it makes you stop and think about all the things that you really have to be thankful for.” Moriah Reinwald said. “I would encourage everybody to actually think about what you’re thankful for, think about what we’re celebrating that day, how lucky we are to live where we live and have the opportunities that we do.”
In a world that seems so vast and scary, it’s difficult to recognize how blessed you are to be alive right now–better yet–amidst a sea of individuals who so deeply care about you. Nonetheless, when you step back and pause for a moment, you find that it’s easier to notice the little things that make your life complete and your heart (and, in this case, stomach) full.
“I really like getting to spend time with a lot of my family that I feel like I don’t get to see,” Senior Chloe Berry said. “I think it’s just a really important time to show gratitude for the ones that you love and for everything that we are given.”
Taking a solid portion of intentional time to reflect on what you have is definitely something you and your loved ones should try this Thanksgiving. It brings out the realization that this seemingly minute holiday means more than food, fun, and football. Its meaning is in its name: to give thanks.
