It is no secret that Thanksgiving is a holiday of many interpretations. Depending on which interest group is being asked, this day of observance can be accompanied by negative or positive connotations. According to its Google definition, Thanksgiving is “an annual national holiday marked by religious observances and a traditional meal including turkey.” Thanksgiving, as described in textbooks across the country, is a national holiday which came to be in Plymouth, Massachusetts during the year of 1621. In its prime, Thanksgiving has been described as “a three-day festival of eating, hunting, and other entertainment in honor of the pilgrims’ first successful harvest,” (History). What history textbooks around the world do not tell you is that these are only miniscule details regarding what the holiday actually commemorates. According to numerous sources, Thanksgiving has been given a negative reputation for laying the foundation of Native American suffering. A short film published by WatchCut on Youtube explores fifteen Native Americans and their one-worded responses to "Thanksgiving". Some of their answers include "sadness", "lies", "inaccuracy", and "colonization", though some voice that when they hear the word "Thanksgiving", they think about "family", "football" and "thankfulness". Above all else, they did not seem too keen on the idea of the holiday being the center of discussion. That is primarily due to a heavy history of generations of oppression, massacre, bloody
“Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (1Thessalonians5-18).
This year Thanksgiving is on November 23,2017. Every year my family Thanksgiving is the best, to me at least. So we always have Thanksgiving at my Grandmas and Grandpas, but not this year we are having it at my house. Which I mean could be good and bad. Good is it is at my house so it’s cool and bad, the house has to be completely spotless or my mom will freak out. Normally what we do every year is we get my family together and have dinner, mess around, and watch football. This year my dad's brother is coming with his three daughters and his wife and my grandpa and grandma. I really can’t wait to see them all because I don't really see them that much as I would like to. When we have a family dinner like this we always have a lot of food for everyone.
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.
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
The truth behind the tradition is surprising. Thanksgiving and the Pilgrims seem to go together, but the truth is, the Pilgrims never held an autumnal Thanksgiving feast. However the Pilgrims did have a feast in 1621, after their first harvest, and it is this feast, which people often refer to as "The First Thanksgiving". This feast was never repeated, though, so it can't be called the beginning of a tradition, nor was it termed by the colonists or "Pilgrims" a Thanksgiving Feast. In fact, a day of thanksgiving was a day of prayer and fasting, and would have been held any time that they felt an extra day of thanks was called for. Nevertheless, the 1621 feast has become a model that we think of for our own
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,
In conclusion, the history of Thanksgiving dates back to 1621. It takes many years before it becomes a permanent national holiday for the American society. Throughout the years Americans have in cooperated new traditions as well as maintained the old. As O. Henry says, “There is one day that is ours. Thanksgiving Day is the one day that is purely
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 to me means family time and a chains to be thankful for all we have our family, our wonderful country, and all the things we are blessed to have. Every year we go to our Mimi’s and Papa’s for thanksgiving, it is my family, my Mimi and Papa, and my Uncle's family. As soon as you walk through the door you can smell the wonderful aroma of food, and when you walk into the kitchen you can see a table adorned with an abundant amount. Then we all gather around the table and pry as we thank god for all he has given use and then we get our plates so we can serve ourselves. While we are eating we have some comical conversations that makes us laugh, we also talk about what we have been doing.
At that point of my childhood, my family was unaware of American holidays and traditions since they barely settled in The United States. One of the holidays that were a major topic of discussion in American schools was Thanksgiving. When I was in elementary, teachers would make students draw turkeys, color turkeys, and play games that featured turkeys. I did not comprehend what Thanksgiving was truly about as a child, but I did know that it was “turkey day,” meaning that on Thanksgiving I was supposed to eat a turkey with my family just like the rest of my peers said they would.
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.
While children are growing up in America, they are told several tales of America’s establishment and history. However, these stories are generally not told as they actually happened. An instance of this is the story of the Pilgrims and the first Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving is explained as this elaborate ceremony where the Pilgrims and Indians gathered in harmony at this large harvest in celebration of their coming together. According to the primary document of William Bradford’s journal, Thanksgiving didn’t pan out quite as it is explained to Americans today. In the film, The Addams Family Values, the Addams children take part in a traditional, yet misconceived celebration of the first Thanksgiving. This
Thanksgiving is a national and annual holiday where people express their gratitude and appreciation towards family members, friends, significant others, their religion, their health, their education, or are appreciative of what they have. Most of us are all aware that Thanksgiving is one of the happiest days of the year because we all share a traditional meal with our family and often give thanks to our loved ones. Typically, on this day interactions are what is primarily being focused on. Everyone is communicating with one another about how grateful they are to have them in their lives and this ultimately strengthens and provides reassurance to the relationship. The most important part about Thanksgiving is that all families come together
Although we enjoy thanksgiving, many people do not know the background of Thanksgiving or the true story of Thanksgiving. The first Thanksgiving was in November 1621, when the pilgrim’s first corn harvest was successful, with the help of the Indians. The feast was organized by governor William Bradford and he too invited native American allies, one being Wampanoag Chief Massasoit. The pilgrims didn’t use “Thanksgiving” to describe this three-day feast. No record exists of what was on the banquet’s menu.
Thanksgiving is a holiday celebrated by many Americans. It is more than just a day to give thanks and be thankful for many blessings that people have, it is a day which Americans should remember as being an important day in their history.