Michael Arlen Ode to Thanksgiving

But what is this year has been unkind to you? It could be that this Thanksgiving is going to be different from others. Maybe there is a seat at the table that is going to be empty for some reason. Maybe the table will look a little less full because of finances. Could it be that there are some who, because of struggles, burdens, and problems, would rather skip Thanksgiving? Maybe you’re here this morning and you know you should be thankful, you know it’s that time of year, but because of everything going on, because of the pressure and the problems that you are facing, because of the uncertainty you are facing, you would prefer to skip ahead a week. You don’t even know if you can find a reason to be thankful.

In an article by Pleck (2011) it was claimed that the pilgrims did not have ruffled shirts, buckled shoes nor did they consume on turkey at the harvest feast that occurred in 1621. This may come as a shock to most because growing up we were taught to believe these along with other “facts” about the harvest feast that we come to know as the first thanksgiving. The pilgrims lost many of their people in the winter of 1620 due to lack of foraging knowledge. This led the colony to form a relationship with the Wampanoag tribe. They taught them how to fish as well as gather vegetables. This is thought to be common knowledge but as previously stated this may not be completely true after all. Pleck was not the only person to uncover the truth about the harvest feast of 1621. A director named Ellis (2010) made a documentary that confirms the feast

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 's a tradition that my moms side of the family come to my grandmas house for Thanksgiving. The cool air and falling leaves is a sign of fall and Thanksgiving is my least favorite holiday. I don’t like my cousins very much and I 'm pretty sure the feeling is mutual. Thanksgiving is not that cheerful for me. Years ago at Thanksgiving, I was not excited for it, just like every other year. My grandmas basement is very much underground and quite dark without the lights on. My cousins were running around the basement playing around. I started to try to scare them by hiding and popping out saying "Boo!". Evening approached and the moon starts to come out of hiding and the night starts to set in. It’s a cool night outside and the sun starts to

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?

William Bradford’s “Of Plymouth Plantation” opened my eyes about Plymouth and Thanksgiving. First of all, there was a part in Bradford’s background that caught my eye: Thanksgiving. I am sure that many of us at some point visualized Thanksgiving as a large feast. However, I found it shocking that his narrative does not emphasize a feast, but rather a document of what it was like in Plymouth and the interactions with the Native Americans. Either way, I still found it interesting how Thanksgiving came to be. It would be nice to read another person’s viewpoint of Thanksgiving and to see if there really was a feast or not.

Most people have the custom of buying a turkey for thanksgiving. “46 million turkeys are eaten each Thanksgiving” (Turkey for the Holidays). Traditionally, people eat an abundance of food resembling the pilgrims and how they had a feast based on their religion. Furthermore, there are many different varieties of food such as: turkey, mashed potatoes with gravy, green beans, cranberry sauce, and dinner rolls. For dessert there is pumpkin, apple, and pecan pie. Most of the time the food is extraordinary people just want more. They might even take some and have it again later on. Thanksgiving is a feast we are blessed to

Culturally Americans have accepted that Thanksgiving is a time for family to get together, so with greater emphasis being placed on social support and companionship the Thanksgiving holiday means even more (Solomon, 2013). Both our extended and nuclear family are part of that holiday, so videos like the one I selected drum up new excitement for the upcoming reunions. According to an article by The Food Channel, Thanksgiving for some goes hand in hand with family. There is an expectation of certain foods and an abundance of food. The video below is a snippet from a pastor’s sermon that was remixed. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Olu36QuHUWc

When I imagine “The First Thanksgiving”, I think of peace and harmony. Then my History complex comes in, I remember all of the rape, cannibalism, and disease spreading that happened in the years before “The First Thanksgiving” ruin my picture perfect scene. The Pilgrims did not have a farming aspect when they came to The New Colony but with the help of the Native Americans they learned how to survive. When I was younger we always were taught that this time, in history, everyone got along and they were happy. The Pilgrims came to have religious freedom and not to be treated as second class citizens. This is a notable act but they had various pathogens that they were immuned to but the Natives were not. Historians say that the pathogens that

Charlie Brown is hosting a Thanksgiving dinner for his friends. Snoopy and the little bird helped him out by setting up the table and by making the food. However, Peppermint Patty doesn’t enjoy the food and is displeased with how the dinner is set up. Meanwhile, another one of his guests explains to Patty that she has to be grateful for what she has and shouldn’t complain. Peppermint Patty soon feels bad for what she had said and has the other girl apologize for her since she can not do it herself. Nevertheless, Charlie Brown soon accepts it and is able to invite them over to his grandmother's house for an actual dinner. The purpose of this show is to explain others that they have to be grateful for what they have.

Thanksgiving is a time to celebrate our joys with friends and family. Unfortunately, if you are the person designated to cooking the holiday dinner, the joys can turn into complete and total fear. I'll never forget the first time I made Thanksgiving dinner for twenty family members and friends. I waited until the last minute to start and the dinner ended in a complete disaster. In the years following that failure, I have learned that preparing a Thanksgiving dinner is easy...if you plan ahead.

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.

nimals, I think it's kind of gross, but I don’t have the commitment to say I'm a vegetarian. Anyway, I don't enjoy eating animals that much, it's just not for me but that's a personal problem.  But that's the main focus of Thanksgiving! People just call is Turkey Day, sometimes! So, there's one holiday food, OUT! Next in line, we have stuffing. Mmm don’t you just love good old fashioned wet bread to fill your genetically modified turkey's carcass? Ew! What? Why is that a thing? I don't need to argue this further, I think you get it. The only other key player in the Thanksgiving meal that comes to mind is pumpkin pie. Pumpkin spice is a fan favorite, starting early September people go wild over everything flavored to taste like that festive squash. That's another one of those foods that I just don't like, I'm a picky eater, it's fine. So, I'll let everyone have that, but that does not make Thanksgiving more enjoyable to me. The only Thanksgiving food that I can thoroughly enjoy, are mashed potatoes. Those are glorious, I'm not mad at them but my family gets a little upset at me when that's all I eat for Thanksgiving dinner so it doesn't even count. Major portion of Thanksgiving celebration is the food, and I'm not into it. Boom! Holiday ruined! I mean, if I'm going to overeat, it might as well be foods I enjoy! But, it gets worse.

I have discovered that people don’t share the same Thanksgiving traditions as me. Chicken, Duck, Turkey, and Turdunkin are all enjoyed as main course meals! Vegetables, mashed potatoes, rolls, cookies, ice cream, lemon pie, and blueberry pie bars are also enjoyed on Thanksgiving. Cookies, assorted pies, and blueberry pie bars are commonly enjoyed, and they actually sound pretty tasty! The favorite part of some people’s Thanksgiving feast would be the pie and rolls. Meals aren’t always eaten with family at the table. Some families sit on the couch, while they watch tv, or they eat at a fancy restaurant. Everyone has their own customs when it comes to the holidays.

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.