Wednesday, November 22, 2017

Thankfully Not Gone



To be thankful, that is what this time of year is about. Thanksgiving was instituted as a national holiday by Abraham Lincoln in 1863 during the American Civil War. It has come represent many things to many people over the years, but at the heart of what was represented on that first national observance remains today; giving thanks.

Many argue that Thanksgiving is becoming a forgotten holiday as Black Friday, one of the biggest shopping days the year, follows the day after Thanksgiving. It even appears to have taken Thanksgiving’s place. It is a solid argument as we watch our televisions night after night and see commercial after commercial declaring “get here Friday for your Christmas door busters”. And, we  see these commercials starting the beginning of October, but that is another argument for another day.

Another thing that seems to support that argument is that no one decorates for Thanksgiving anymore. That is too general a statement, because I know for a fact my mother does and so do others from her generation. But, drive down any residential street in the weeks before Thanksgiving and you would not see Mr. and Mrs. Pilgrim in the yards. You would not find bright and shiny pinpoints of light in brown, orange, and yellow either. The residential world seems to skip Thanksgiving every year and move right to twinkling of red and green.

I have no real complaint about the oversight. I understand that many do not want to decorate for three different holiday events over a two month period. That said, by skipping the Thanksgiving decor and attending the Black Friday sales, some are left with the impression that Thanksgiving is becoming the forgotten holiday.

I believe this is simply not true. Over the last weeks as Salt Lake City and its surrounding areas have prepared for Christmas — Temple Square, Main Street, and the downtown stores must have their lights ready for Black Friday — people, families and friends, have prepared for Thanksgiving. There may be no outward display of this old yearly holiday, but the spirit of it is alive and well.

In my travels this last week I cannot count the people that wished me a Happy Thanksgiving and that I wished the same. We talked of the food that would be served, the family and friends who would attend, the spirits that would be served, and football. Everyone seemed enthusiastic as the event approached.

I was forced to think back on past Thanksgivings and it occurred to me that it was basically that way every year. As families and friends grew closer to the time when they would come together, excitement (and to be honest, some angst too) rose until everyone was present and accounted for. It has always seemed that everyone, for the most part, participated in those Thanksgivings. I do not see a change in that today.

How could something so alive be lost? It is not possible for it to be forgotten. Yes, it is the gathering of family and friends that comes to mind first when we think of Thanksgiving. This is one reason it will never be forgotten. There is another reason too that I believe will always hold the holiday in place; that is the thanks and giving from which it was born.

The holiday was originally initiated by Lincoln so that we might give thanks, summarizing, to the One that resides in Heaven, during one of the worst periods of time this country has ever experienced. I believe that the spirit of thankfulness will carry this holiday on for as long our country exists, maybe beyond. There may not be the over the top decorating that occurs with Halloween and Christmas, but Thanksgiving remains no matter the decor.

I hope for you and yours the very best that Thanksgiving has to offer. Happy Thanksgiving.

No comments:

Post a Comment

Thankfully Not Gone

Jean Leon Gerome Ferris (1863-1930) To be thankful, that is what this time of year is about. Thanksgiving was instituted as a nationa...