“Thankfulness is the beginning of gratitude. Gratitude is the completion of thankfulness. Thankfulness may consist merely of words. Gratitude is shown in acts.”
Henri Frederic Amiel
I’m sad. I’m a bit mad. And most of all I’ve had it. I’ve had it with Christmas taking over Thanksgiving’s important November role: that of being the holiday of gratitude, family, and friends. And food. And football. And fall. And simply one day for festivities and fun.
I LOVE Thanksgiving. I love the food, I love the football, I love the family and friends, and I love fall. I don’t love that people are already putting up Christmas trees and Christmas lights. Don’t get me wrong, I also love Christmas, but there’s a time and a place for everything. And a month.
October is for Halloween.
November is for Thanksgiving.
December is for Christmas.
Holidays shouldn’t mix and match. We don’t mesh Valentine’s Day with St. Patrick’s Day and Easter, so why Thanksgiving and Christmas? I don’t get it and it’s just wrong to be serving your turkey and dressing as you turn on the lights of your Christmas tree. I know many of you disagree with me and countless of you may have already started your Christmas decoration deluge and I apoligize for wishing otherwise.
Thanksgiving is very important. Giving thanks and being grateful always is, so devoting an entire day to doing so should not be overshadowed by any other holiday or event…including Black Friday, the day we want everything after the day of being thankful for what we have.
For those of you who don’t know or have forgotten its origins, the very first Thanksgiving was celebrated by the Pilgrims in answer to their prayers for an end to the drought so they would have food. Those same pilgrims worked side-by-side with their new neighbors, Native American Indians, in a show of ultimate acceptance and teamwork. These are important moments in our nation’s history and deserve to be saluted…all by themselves.
So please, do us all a favor and put away your lights and ornaments for just two more weeks. Let’s all give Thanksgiving the holiday and the honor it deserves. I’ll be ever so thankful if you do.
Beyond Words 