“It’s the most wonderful time of the year.” We have all heard that famous jingle before, one that brings a subtle but jolly feeling into our lives one month out of the year. It is a time of hot chocolate, candy canes, and the experience of going to church on Christmas Eve to hear the old church choir sing those beautiful Christmas hymns. Christmas genuinely seems like a once in a lifetime miracle, but is it indeed the most wonderful time of the year? Some would argue Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year, but I’m going to tell you differently. I’m going to explain to you why Thanksgiving is the most wonderful time of the year, instead of Christmas. It’s November 23, Thanksgiving Day, a time when the entirety of your family mingles and eats together once out of the two times it occurs in a typical year –– the other being Christmas. To the average Joe, this holiday is a delicious but god-awful holiday when the extended family arrives. The problem, of course, isn’t the food –– I mean it’s turkey and ham and many other Thanksgiving delicacies –– it’s your family, all they do is bicker and complain and argue about politics. Nowhere in the discussion is there a time to talk about why we’re thankful, but instead should Roy Moore be acquitted or not. Awful huh? Well, let’s not honestly look at the family as terrible, instead think of them as the entertainment for your lunch or evening. I mean think about it, “Do I truly need to get involved in the argument with them?”
Every culture has some different patterns of behavior and characters of observing and understanding symbols, which heave upon the actions of its people. As a notable scholar Robert J. House remarks, “When cultures come in contact, they may converge in some aspects, but their idiosyncrasies will likely amplify” (as cited in Bhagat & Steers, 2009). The occasion of Thanksgiving has religious, historical and cultural origins, and is celebrated in many parts of the world in the same spirit of celebration. A hearty, large meal is prepared and close friends or relatives are invited to share the celebrations with. The general mood and behaviors during Thanksgiving Day is similar to the celebratory occasions in other cultures, as they may all be celebrated with family and friends by sharing meals and celebrations. However, the food items selected for Thanksgiving meals, such as baked or roasted Turkey, mashed potatoes with gravy, sweet potatoes, pumpkin pie and other fall vegetables are different in their nature. Also, a prayer of appreciation is said before the meal, thanking God for the bounties and blessings of the previous year, which
Holidays are always celebrated no matter religion, beliefs, or culture. Some are recognized more than others but none two are as highly recognized like the cherished Christmas and Thanksgiving holidays. The pair may seem vastly different, as they are two completely separate occasions, but in actuality they do share very similar attributes. Many of the similarities and differences are about to be explained, so here goes.
It is mind boggling to know that despite the quest for knowledge and learning the truth behind our history, yet a vast number of people still celebrate thanksgiving. What are we really thankful for?
Her warmest memories took her to Thanksgiving. As a young girl, it seemed as though her entire family came together at her mother’s home. By far the Thanksgiving dinner has always been the family’s biggest celebration ad gathering of the entire year. Her
Thanksgiving Holiday means so much to me. I love to celebrate that extended weekend with my family. On the eve of the big day, my cousins and I meet at an elder’s house and then the festivities began. This shared feast started in 1621 with the Plymouth colonists and Wampanoag Indians sharing a harvest feast ("Thanksgiving," 2016). A portion of the food can be prepared the day before. We decide who would handle what task and when it time clean up the second generation, always try to make the third generation do it. We then continue to cook and clean and reminisce of our past year. Sometimes we would bring up our childhood pranks and stories of family members that passed and present. On the day of Thanksgiving we finish cooking,
I’m going to give you an example of my most memorable Thanksgiving. This goes back to four years ago. I believe I was in the seventh grade around this time. Thanksgiving was at my grandmother's house that year. So everyone definitely came for the food. The problem was that my two aunties weren’t getting along at that time. One came up from Florida and the other came up from Jamaica. My aunty Darrett was from Jamaica and my auntie Reds is from Florida. They were my grandma’s sisters. Now imagine being in a house on a holiday with two of your family members not speaking. Once it was time for us to eat we all was
Thanksgiving is the best holiday hands down. I’m talking even better than Christmas and Valentine's Day. I love Thanksgiving because it is during the best time of year, there is so much good food, and the meaning and purposes have stayed good and the same over the years. Christmas and Valentine's day are exciting and fun, but the little details make Thanksgiving much better. Its these little details that make the Thanksgiving holiday and season more enjoyable and pleasant.
This week, families across our state are unboxing their Thanksgiving décor, choosing table cloths, and deciding who is going to be responsible for what dish next Thursday. It’s that time of the year when we come together, forget our family drama for at least a week and get in the holiday spirit. Unfortunately, this holiday season comes with a different taste to many. Hundreds of Iowan families and I will share our Thanksgiving meal with uncertainty, anxiety and fear.
When the great holiday of Thanksgiving comes to mind, most people think of becoming total gluttons and gorging themselves with a seemingly unending amount of food. Others might think of the time spent with family and friends. The whole basis of the holiday is family togetherness, fellowship, and thankfulness for blessings received during the previous year.
In many households Thanksgiving centers around cooking and sharing a bountiful meal with friends and family while the holiday parades and football games play in the background. As a child growing up, Granny’s house was where the family gathered to celebrate Thanksgiving Day with a huge feast. Several family members had to travel from out of state to spend the holiday with family and friends. The kitchen was filled with people catching up on each other lives and getting the last-minute food dishes prepared while the younger kids watched the parades on the television. Most of the guys and even a few girls could be found outdoors, playing football while the older kids cheered them on.
With the rush of people coming in the door ready to eat. Starting to make the silence die. The wind starts to pick up with the refreshing november air blowing through. Some people pitch in to help set the plates and put the final touches on the food. While the turkey is being cut everyone knows the feast is about to begin. As everyone floods into the dining room with chairs and the dogs following preparing to have thanksgiving as well. Once everyone is there and all the food is set in the middle of the table we say our prayers and begin to eat.
The holidays have sprung upon us. There is a chill in the air. In some places, the ground covered with snow. It is a time where stores are filled with candy canes, Christmas trees, and chocolate Santas. When you look at storefronts there may be snowflakes in the windows, or Christmas trees in your local malls. Christmas, it seems so magical to most, it’s the holiday most know. However, there are some who celebrate Hanukkah or Kwanza, or they just belong to a different culture and their holidays are filled with their own traditions. For some, December is not marked by going to a tree filled the parking lot, inhaling that pleasant smell of pine, while searching for the perfect tree. Instead, their December starts with a tradition not as widely
We all have family traditions, some of which we take pride in, some of which we dread and despise but, whether you know it or not they are what make us who we are. One of my favorite traditions that I can truly say I’m passionate for would have to be Thanksgiving dinner. The dinner for the holiday goes by in a blink of an eye because of all the enjoyment. However, the preparations that lead up to the day are long and prestigious even though they are what make the dinner so great. Since the holiday comes up before we know it, we get started as soon as the year hits mid fall.
There are holidays in every culture where the food is the focal point. For example, the most important tradition involving food in the U.S. is Thanksgiving. According to a 2015 poll, 95% of people in the U.S. spend Thanksgiving with their families.“Thanksgiving by the Numbers.” Fox Business, Fox Business, 23 Nov. 2016. This is because people in the U.S. grew up making memories with their families, and they want to make more memories with their children. These traditions are important to people because they make them nostalgic, so it’s necessary for people to take a break and spend time with their families.