Is Thanksgiving America’s Greatest Past Time Holiday

Michelle Vance
The Paw Print

Have you ever noticed that after Halloween the Christmas decorations and songs start flying out? Did we ever take time to think that there is a very important holiday in between these two widely celebrated holidays?
Thanksgiving is that holiday. We all look foreword to it and even get a break from school for it, so why isn’t it more acknowledged around campus and in the town?
Thanksgiving is not only a day to eat to your heart’s desire, but it’s also a day of remembrance, thankfulness, and appreciation. Thanksgiving started as “days of prayer” in Europe and it was to thank god for letting the people get through a drought or war.
The first Thanksgiving was celebrated in America in 1621. It was meant to celebrate a successful harvest in a new land. This was a big accomplishment for the settlers because it meant that they had land apart from England and they could sustain themselves. The Native American’s joined in the feast because they helped to teach the pilgrims how to cultivate the land. President Abraham Lincoln made it a national holiday in 1863.
Now that we know the history, what do we do? Well first off, we remember that without the successful harvest of our first crops in this country, we may not have survived. Without the help from others, we could have perished. Our countries success lied partially in the ability to sustain ourselves and the harvest of Thanksgiving was what allowed us to do so.
Thanksgiving is also a great time to come together with friends and family and celebrate a prosperous year. It is a time to remember what we are thankful for and what we are fortunate to have. Even though we should be thankful every day of the year, Thanksgiving is a time when it is highly recommended.
Skipping thanksgiving in the stores may help wield a profit, but it is a huge part of our heritage as American’s, and it is a great time to bring together all people and to be thankful instead of always wanting. Even if the stores are skipping thanksgiving, keep the idea of this holiday close at heart during this wonderful time of the year.