Happy Thanksgiving to all my American readers! The commemoration of the first Thanksgiving feast between the Wampanoag tribe and the Mayflower pilgrims is obviously an integral part of American culture. And yet, as it’s not celebrated anywhere in Europe, I was always curious about the celebration whenever I was watching an episode of a TV episode set on the holiday. What are they celebrating? Why is it so close to Christmas? Won’t they get sick of having two big turkey dinners in such close proximity?
As I got older and more worldly, I gathered more information and began to understand the origins of the holiday. I began to understand why Americans refer to The Holidays, plural, and I no longer think Thanksgiving is too close to Christmas. It’s actually a nice way to break up the monotony of Autumn/Winter. Though the commemoration of a peaceful feast between pilgrims and Native Americans always seemed strangely melancholy to me, given how things turned out.
Interestingly enough, that wasn’t actually the first Thanksgiving. Well, obviously it was, but the term thanksgiving was already in use among the pilgrims as a term for a period of prayerful fast. So in a way, this lavish feast was actually the opposite of what they normally considered a thanksgiving. It was more like a typical harvest festival, only with the extra significance of the joining together of pilgrims and Native Americans. The term the first Thanksgiving didn’t really enter popular usage until 1840 when it was used by Boston publisher Alexander Young, when he published a book featuring a letter describing the feast. In 1863, it became a federal holiday after a proclamation from Abraham Lincoln.
I quite like the simplicity of the term. Because of the holiday’s modernity, there’s no complex etymology to be sifted through. Instead, it describes itself pretty simply: a day for giving thanks. So I hope you enjoy your meal, relax, spend some time with your family, and have plenty to give thanks for.
Still though, won’t you be sick of turkey and Brussels sprouts by Christmas?
English-Language Thoughts 
It’s fun to see all the well wishes for everyone living in the States as I wander through my feed today – your image made me smile and long for that delicious taste of turkey again (Canada’s Thanksgiving was last month!)!
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Well let me wish you a belated Happy Thanksgiving :). I’m always vaguely aware of Canadian Thanksgiving, but sadly it doesn’t get the attention over here that the American one does. It is as big a deal for you guys as it is for your neighbours to the south?
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The only difference is the excitement and hype of the big holiday sale days (Black Friday & Cyber Monday) that signal that Christmas is on the way, our celebration is much quieter.
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Ah, Black Friday! I’m sad to see it creeping in more and more over here. I don’t like the naked commercialism of it, and the way it’s like a reward for people for having to spend the day with their family!
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Sick of turkey….surely you jest; have you never had curried turkey? Brussels Sprouts on the other hand while nice remains, for me, a once in awhile treat.
HAPPY T. Day from me & mine to you & yours. ~~dru~~
(Yours forever green but not always from sprouts)
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Ah yes, curried turkey’s usually a staple in the days after Christmas Day, along with plenty of turkey & ham sandwiches!
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Yup, can’t actually go wrong with those choices. Ever eat tofu? You’ll start to appreciate the “other side” ~~dru~~
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I’ve had tofu a few times and liked it actual: I must try it in tofurkey form!
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Oh don’t go all tofurkey on me….it is abysmal. Just load up on all the delightful veggies and get your protein else where. ps I was raised a vegetarian but find the strict diet abysmal too. Meat or fowl aside, I’d die happy on an overdose of chocolate. ~~dru~~
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[…] to the period including and between Thanksgiving and Christmas. And as we don’t celebrate Thanksgiving here (I try to just generally be grateful every day), the phrase has never taken […]
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