Has anyone else noticed America has lost a holiday? Or am I the only one concerned about the disappearance of Thanksgiving? The gradual easing out of America's holiday.
Early in September, I noticed a sign on First Avenue that advertised Christmas decoration. Usually, retailers wait until after Halloween, but not in recent years. Even the back-to-school materials fight for shelf space with Halloween paraphernalia before displays jump into Christmas. Many small towns leave Christmas decorations up all year. Have you noticed how early the neighbor down the street decorates for Christmas? Traditionally, Thanksgiving Day served as the signal for families to begin decorating for the holiday of holidays. After Macys's Parade, an overabundant feast, and numerous football games, families trimmed the house with Santa Claus and his elves, reindeers, snowmen, and an occasional nativity scene.
In recent history, however, those prone to this activity have festooned their yards, porches, garages, and houses with Halloween paraphernalia such as skeletons, witches, pumpkins, etc. Halloween has become a very important holiday. Frankly, that's a different story. I have no intention into delving into the religious significance of Halloween vs. Christmas. The point is that as a people we jump from Halloween to Christmas. Even more disturbing is the simple fact that no one seems to have noticed or cared.
Frankly, I miss the Thanksgiving trimmings-cornucopia, turkeys, pilgrims and Indians. Fortunately, our family still considers it our favorite holiday. Perhaps, we overdo it.
Not everyone celebrates Thanksgiving to the extent that we do as my oldest daughter discovered when she went home for Thanksgiving with a college roommate. She was appalled and disappointed to discover that Thanksgiving for this family was just another Sunday dinner, making my daughter even more homesick.
Pardon the history lesson, but isn't Thanksgiving the first American holiday? Didn't our ancestors pause with their new friends to thank God for all their blessings? Regardless of the hardships and pain endured in coming to the new land, they took time to say "Thank you."
I once overheard two avid baseball fans argue about whom was the greatest: Stan Musial or Ted Williams. Have you ever seen a photo of Ted Williams in his prime? Well, being a young girl at the time, I had no trouble casting my vote. Maybe that's why I wasn't asked my opinion. The two old men traded barbs about their favorite, comparing statistics, etc., much like McGwire and Sosa fans of today. Finally, the Musical fan offered the most amazing reason for his choice. "I'll tell you why Stan Musial is a better player than Ted Williams. Musial acknowledges his fans. Musial says, 'Thank you.' Williams doesn't even tip his hat or wave his hand as he runs the bases."
Ted's defender spoke up. "He's shy."
"Shy!" The Musial devotee scoffed. "That's hogwash."
"No, really. He's very shy. Doesn't give interviews or anything."
"Is that so? Well, shy or not, how hard is it to wave at your fans or tip your hat? How much effort does it take to touch the bill of your cap? There's no doubt, Williams is one of baseballs' greats, but I have to wonder about a man who can't say, 'Thank you.'"
Frankly, I have no idea whether any of what the men claimed was true or if it were just the ranting of two old baseball fans trying to best one another. Truthfully, I never thought much more about their conversation until I noticed the disappearance of Thanksgiving. Now I have to wonder, "What does the disappearance of Thanksgiving say about us as a people? Are we too shy to take one day out of each year to say, "Thank you?" What would our forefathers think? At this point in history, Americans have more of everything, yet we are suffocating the one holiday that is truly American. Thanksgiving is not simply a holiday it is a privilege. It's that day each year when we take time to reflect on our blessings and thank whomever we worship for all we have received. We, all Americans, rich and poor, have so much to be thankful for. If you doubt that, may I suggest you read the world news most any day or ask an immigrant who risked life and limb to come to our country? If that doesn't convince you, then take a moment to watch a sunrise or a sunset or listen to the singing of the birds or the laughter of children.
As Americans, we need to reclaim our holiday. We owe it to those courageous people who left their homeland for religious freedom to settle here and those who have fought to keep us free, but even more than that, we owe it to those who will inherit this great country. Thanksgiving sets us apart as a nation. What will America become without Thanksgiving?
