Articles of the Month

Thanksgiving means...

Everyone knows the story of thanksgiving, the pilgrims, and the stuffing. Thanksgiving comes once a year, celebrated only in North America, and in Canada. It's celebrated on the 2nd Monday of October, so, as thanksgiving creeps up on us, think about what thanksgiving means.

The origin of thanksgiving started with the pilgrims who sailed to America on the Mayflower on December 11, 1620. When they first landed, they discovered hard times due to the colder temperatures, leading to the deaths of 46 of the 102 who came on the Mayflower. Help from the Native Americans, enabled them to have a bountiful harvest in 1621. The remaining colonists decided to celebrate this harvest with a feast, inviting the 91 Native Americans who taught them how to survive their first year.

The story of thanksgiving goes on; it didn't continue on every year, in fact, it wasn't declared a holiday until President Abraham Lincoln declared it so. Also, throughout history, the date of Thanksgiving has been changed many times and one reason was to increase the Christmas shopping season.

What do people do on thanksgiving and what does it really mean? Today's society has us thinking that thanksgiving is about football games, turkey and stuffing. In my opinion, thanksgiving is a day that your family comes over, your mom slaves away all day in the kitchen preparing a meal. Family arrives with pumpkin pie in hand and anything else they think of. The microwave tings and the ham is done. Dinner is on the table; you hold hands together and say what you are thankful for, give grace and eat. But what does it mean to others?

Amy V. of University of Toronto said, "Thanksgiving is a time to be thankful - for family, for friends and everything. I get together and eat dinner with my family on thanksgiving and eat turkey and stuff." Sherena H., York University says, "Thanksgiving to me is a time of year, where autumn invades your frame of mind, only to force you to realize how much you've missed summer, and thus, grateful for the warmth provided by the family get-together (and food) on that day". Drew in Alabama says, "It's just a day for giving thanks for all you're blessed with."

So as you sit down at the table with your family, remember all the things that you are blessed with, and give thanks that you were blessed with them.