Next week we celebrate one of my favorite holidays. Thanksgiving has been celebrated in some form or fashion since the early 1600s. There are many myths that have developed over the years about Pilgrims and their funny hats, Plymouth Rock and what they ate for Thanksgiving dinner. Some are true and others are stories that evolved and have been embellished along the way.
Most historians, however, agree on the fact that the first Thanksgiving was celebrated in December of 1619, during which British settlers pledged "Thanksgiving" to God for their safe arrival after a long and dangerous crossing of the Atlantic.
President George Washington established the first Thanksgiving Day designated by the national government of the United States of America. In 1863, Abraham Lincoln declared that Thanksgiving would be a national holiday celebrated annually on the last Thursday of November. Then, in 1941, Congress passed a bill stating that it would be observed annually on the fourth Thursday of November.
And some of us thought it all started with football!
Thanksgiving is observed in many ways across our country. To some it is watching the Macys' Thanksgiving Day Parade, which keeps us occupied while the turkey is roasting. Symbolically, the parade kicks off the Christmas shopping season, which begins the next day. To others, Thanksgiving is all about watching football games and digesting your turkey dinner while prone on the sofa. The more athletic types may be running in a turkey trot or marathon to benefit some worthwhile organization. Many kind-hearted folks devote their day to helping others who are less fortunate and may have fallen upon hard times. Churches and other charitable organizations sponsor dinners and open their doors to the homeless and the needy.
My favorite Thanksgivings were the ones that I remember from my youth when the family joined together to celebrate the day. The meal was a traditional Thanksgiving feast including the turkey stuffed with dressing, mashed potatoes, gravy, cranberry sauce, rolls and, of course, pumpkin pie.
I can still remember the smells drifting from the kitchen as we visited with family while the meal was being prepared. Everyone probably ate more than they should have, but then this was the day to do that sort of thing. Afterward, most would retire to the living room and see what games were on TV, lie on the couches or floor and usually doze off, dreaming of turkey sandwiches yet to come.
In the meantime, poor old Mom was out there in the kitchen washing all those dishes and pots and pans and finding room to store the leftovers. I can still picture her with soapsuds up to her elbows and a smile on her face. Despite the work, she knew that she brought the family together with her meal and that it was worth all the effort. I often wondered if our mothers and grandmothers really enjoyed Thanksgiving, considering all that preparation and cleanup. Is it any consolation that Mother's Day is a mere six months away?
No matter how you choose to spend the day, take a moment to reflect and give thanks for what you have and for our country. Even the poorest of our citizens are more fortunate than millions of people in other countries. Regardless of how difficult things might seem at times, there is always hope for a better tomorrow.
Just think, now that the election is over and we have a new president, we have all those campaign promises to look forward to! Did he say anything about all of us getting a free turkey next year?
Happy Thanksgiving northern Michigan!
Ed Hungness and his wife owned their cottage on Fife Lake for six years before moving there after his retirement in 2005. His writing draws from life experiences and a love for the outdoors and northern Michigan. He can be reached at edhungness@yahoo.com or care of the Record-Eagle.
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