As soon as the clock strikes midnight on November 1 and all the trick-or-treaters have disappeared, some people already declare the arrival of the Christmas season. My question is, Why do people not just wait until after Thanksgiving? Thanksgiving is an important part of American culture and a representation of gratitude towards the simple things in life. Covid-19 opened many people’s eyes to the everyday tasks we take for granted, such as getting to go out to lunch with friends or even shopping at the grocery store. Therefore, the holiday of Thanksgiving should be given more credit than it is. However, people start celebrating Christmas the day after Halloween, and they simply view Thanksgiving as a day of feast and gathering, and then go right back to Christmas celebration without a second thought. By not giving Thanksgiving as much recognition as it deserves, not only do people dull the true meaning of Thanksgiving, but they also cause Christmas cheer to grow old.
Sure, many people look forward to Thanksgiving because of the tasty dishes and homemade desserts, but Thanksgiving was designed to be a day of praise for the blessings individuals acquire. Not only does Thanksgiving bring about a sense of gratitude for the simplistic of life, but it is also a symbolic representation of coming together. The first Thanksgiving was a celebration of peace between the Wampanoag tribe and the English colonists despite their differences. In a world where unity appears to be a difficulty and violence and cruelty are in every corner, taking the time to express thankfulness instead of rushing the monthly clock is needed.
Christmas should not be rushed nor celebrated until after the holiday of Thanksgiving because people deserve to indulge in the opportunities Thanksgiving brings. For many families, Thanksgiving offers a much-needed reunion and escape from the stress of the everyday world. In the words of junior Lyv McGraw, “Thanksgiving is one of the few times a year my family sees my dad’s side from out of town, and it makes the holiday so memorable.” Additionally, sophomore Emma Dessecker had this to say: “Thanksgiving should be appreciated more because of the family time that surrounds it. Thanksgiving is memorable for me because I get to spend time with family that I don’t normally get to visit.” Thanksgiving truly is important and memorable to the general public, so there’s no reason to rush through it to get to Christmas.
If Thanksgiving carried as much hype and excitement as Christmas, perhaps it would make both holidays even more meaningful due to equal sentiment. If instead of beginning Christmas celebrations at the beginning of November, people waited until after Thanksgiving to decorate their homes or turn on the Hallmark movies, the excitement of Christmas would be even more memorable and exciting because the countdown would be even shorter. Coincidentally, the month of November would still be a month of anticipation and excitement, but for a much-underrated holiday: Thanksgiving. Perhaps instead of immediately putting out Christmas decor, stores should invest in a greater amount of Thanksgiving apparel, and instead of the radio stations immediately changing their themes from “spooky season” to “happy holidays,” they should begin to play songs promoting peace and gratitude during the month of November.
While Christmas and all of the joy, celebration, and happiness that come along with its season are important, the world should begin to look forward and anticipate Thanksgiving in the way that it does with Christmas. The day stands not as a glorified day of feasting, but a holiday designed to promote unity, gratitude, and serenity. Instead of only focusing on the holiday on the singular Thursday it occurs, the nation should create a “Thanksgiving season” and put Christmas on hold until after the equally significant holiday of Thanksgiving is over. Patience is a virtue, and if one were simply to wait a few weeks, both holidays would earn the acknowledgment each deserves.
