Thanksgiving is a time of togetherness for family and friends.
Legend has it that the Pilgrims made it through their first winter in the New World thanks to the Native Americans who provided food and shared their means for survival in a harsh climate.
Traditional Thanksgiving fare includes mashed potatoes, stuffing, yams and other vegetables, cranberry sauce, ham, and of course, the main attraction, the Thanksgiving turkey. This is all followed by pumpkin or apple pie (or both, in my family) topped with whipped cream or vanilla icecream.
Wow, I’m salivating for that meal already, but it’s still a few days away.
Wait, isn’t it Christmas already?
No, you say?
But everywhere I go, I see Christmas garlands strung across store aisles, Christmas tree farms are throwing open their gates, inflatable snowmen have replaced their jack-o’-lantern counterparts, and Santa has set up camp at the mall.
When I was younger, I remember that after Halloween, I would continue to see Autumn-themed decorations and other trimming wherever I went; it was basically Halloween décor minus the scare factor.
It was still Autumn and everyone was celebrating the Harvest Season. Thanksgiving was always a nice, smooth transition into the Christmas season.
BUT EVERYWHERE I GO, I SEE CHRISTMAS GARLANDS STRUNG ACROSS STORE AISLES, CHRISTMAS TREE FARMS ARE THROWING OPEN THEIR GATES, INFLATABLE SNOWMEN HAVE REPLACED THEIR JACK-O’-LANTERN COUNTERPARTS, AND SANTA HAS SET UP CAMP AT THE MALL.
Now with retail taking more and more of a chunk of our attention to the holidays, The Christmas State Of Mind needs to start earlier and earlier to feed the gift-giving frenzy of a confused populace who keep thinking Christmas is right around the corner, forgetting that speed bump called Thanksgiving.
Why squeeze out a holiday that is totally non-denominational, brings family and friends together for delicious food, and reminds us to show gratitude for all our blessings?
In defense of Thanksgiving, let’s slow down and enjoy November, its fiery show of leaves going out in a blaze of glory, the countdown to the Thanksgiving Feast, the constant reminder to GIVE THANKS inherent in the name of the season.
And to those who wish to rush, don’t panic. As soon as you finish that last bite of turkey and stuffing, you may don your ugly sweater and play those Christmas carols. You still have an entire month, after all.
Do you think that Thanksgiving is too important to be squeezed out, or is the holiday now irrelevant?
Photo by Debby Hudson on Unsplash
The Haute Mommy Handbook 
I’m with you. Thanksgiving has it’s place and it deserves to be celebrated!
Exactly! Happy Thanksgiving!
Happy Thanksgiving!
I agree! Great post! I couldn’t have said it any better 💙
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YES, THANK YOU! My birthday is always right around Thanksgiving (this year it’s the Tuesday before) so I’ve always been quite partial to the holiday for selfish reasons I suppose 🙂 #respecttheturkey! Did you see Neiman Marcus isn’t decorating for the Christmas holidays until after Thanksgiving this year? LOVE IT!
Lucky girl, a birthday with TONS of food!! Happy birthday in advance 🎉🎂 !
I actually didn’t know about Neiman’s until you mentioned it. I’m so glad to hear they are waiting. Hopefully the pendulum will be swinging back sometime soon…#respecttheturkey 😀
Whoops! I misspoke – it’s not Neimans, it’s Nordstrom! Apparently it’s a standard for them but signage stating it in the stores this year made it go viral. Thank you for the early bday wishes! Happy Turkey Day 🍗
Thanks, same to you!
Love that pic of the cake and cream, yum! Last week I went to a ramen shop for dinner and they have started to put up Christmas decoration! This reminds me that the year end is just around the corner 😦
Yeah, I don’t know why others are in such a rush to end the year!
I was thinking about this too after a trip to Target on Halloween. They were already taking down the Halloween decor and starting to put up Christmas decor! I’ve been making myself walk by all the Christmas displays so I won’t be tempted to buy anything yet until AFTER Thanksgiving. Like you said, there will be plenty of time to wear ugly sweaters. Turkey first!
That’s so funny that you mention Target. We were there last weekend and couldn’t believe that just 2 weeks before it was all Halloween. The Christmas displays certainly are beautiful, but it is seriously irritating to see Thanksgiving and Autumn decor ON CLEARANCE already! #TurkeyFirst
Yes! Thank you. We need this reminder! We really need a campaign to save Thanksgiving Day! extsincontext.wordpress.com/2013/11/24/thanksgiving-a-christian-holiday-squelched-in-the-u-s-a/
[Last try to post…it keeps making me sign in to my Word Press to post, then takes me away from this page to my own. I am NOT thankful for geeks!]
Thanks for the comment and your post is really good! 🙂
Love this! My daughter keeps asking why there’s Christmas stuff everywhere..she’s 8 and even she’s annoyed!
Haha! Your daughter is a smart cookie!
So true! Love your post 🙂
Thank you!