Thanksgiving: The BEST American Holiday

Morrigoon · 11-14-2007, 11:18 PM

This is a concept that's been rattling around in my brain for some time. When you break down the holidays, look closely at their commercialism as well as their meaning, and viewed in light of how they are celebrated, Thanksgiving is a standout of a holiday.

I'm not saying it's my favorite, just that, as holidays go, it's probably the best one.

Other holidays have been successfully (to varying degrees) stripped of their meaning or solemn celebration by the engine of commerce. Thanksgiving, however, still seems to retain its original meaning and means of celebration. We celebrate Thanksgiving by gathering together with family, sharing a meal, and giving thanks for the good things we've been given in the past year. It is one of the most widely celebrated holidays, being as it is unbound by religious differences. And it is the most consistently celebrated: northeastern families, southern families, western...doesn't matter. In the end, it is still about getting together and sharing a lavish meal.

Where Christmas has become mostly about buying and receiving gifts, Halloween has been stripped of its spookiness in favor of smiling witches and hoardes of candy. Thanksgiving, despite its football games and talk of Black Friday sales is still, at its heart, about getting together with family and enjoying a communal meal. Somehow, it's managed to retain its solemnity in the face of an economy that strives to capitalize on every holiday.

I must admit, it has probably survived due to its built-in commercial aspect: people must buy food. But somehow, that's okay. Because the commercialism does not, and it seems cannot, interfere with the "point" of the day - the people you dine with, and giving thanks for the bounty of our lives.

Somehow, Thanksgiving retains its purity through the commercial haze. And thus, I feel it deserves the title of "best" American holiday.

€uroMeinke · 11-14-2007, 11:30 PM

Sorry - Columbus Day is still the best

Disneyphile · 11-14-2007, 11:38 PM

It is definitely a great holiday, because it doesn't discriminate by religious differences - it's about coming together with loved ones.

However, Ken and I are really looking forward to spending the holiday with just each other this year, because we've yet to have a Thanksgiving alone. (Please do NOT offer condolences, as some have in the past - we consider it a good thing.

)

My parents are very supportive of that, but insisted on funding our dinner, of which we're planning on a quiet big-ass meal at Katella Deli (1/2 pound of turkey and all the fixins and pumpkin pie for just $14.99!), and we know we'll still have leftovers from that place, and we don't have to worry about cooking or cleaning up - just quality time with each other. We'll spend the afternoon having some fun indulgent snacks (I love to put out a relish tray on that day, even just for us), playing some games, heading out to dinner, and then playing more games throughout the evening. It's truly a day off in which everyone will be busy, so we can just concentrate on us. We can't wait.

Gemini Cricket · 11-14-2007, 11:39 PM

Any holiday that centers around food is the holiday for me.

Disneyphile · 11-14-2007, 11:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gemini Cricket

Any holiday that centers around food is the holiday for me.

That's right... you're from Hawaii, aren't you?

Bornieo: Fully Loaded · 11-15-2007, 12:01 AM

I like May Day best!

€uroMeinke · 11-15-2007, 12:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bornieo: Fully Loaded

I like May Day best!

I miss the tanks in Red Square...

JWBear · 11-15-2007, 12:19 AM

Anyone else get the day after Thanksgiving off? That's a great holiday!

libraryvixen · 11-16-2007, 10:52 AM

This year, I've been fortunate enough to get a 4 day weekend. My boss and I had to work at another library branch for a librarian and her 2nd in command that were gone. In turn, the librarian will be coming to my branch to work while my boss and I get the weekend off. Woo!

PirateMunkee · 11-16-2007, 05:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Morrigoon

Thanksgiving, however, still seems to retain its original meaning and means of celebration.

We get to steal from the Native Americans and then get slaughtered after they realize what we had done??!! Wow, I didn't get the memo!!! **Sharpening tomahawk as we speak!!** Hope you can run fast. Have to represent the Cherokee side of me!!!

11-14-2007, 11:18 PM	#1
Morrigoon I throw stones at houses Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Location: Location Posts: 9,534	Thanksgiving: The BEST American Holiday This is a concept that's been rattling around in my brain for some time. When you break down the holidays, look closely at their commercialism as well as their meaning, and viewed in light of how they are celebrated, Thanksgiving is a standout of a holiday. I'm not saying it's my favorite, just that, as holidays go, it's probably the best one. Other holidays have been successfully (to varying degrees) stripped of their meaning or solemn celebration by the engine of commerce. Thanksgiving, however, still seems to retain its original meaning and means of celebration. We celebrate Thanksgiving by gathering together with family, sharing a meal, and giving thanks for the good things we've been given in the past year. It is one of the most widely celebrated holidays, being as it is unbound by religious differences. And it is the most consistently celebrated: northeastern families, southern families, western...doesn't matter. In the end, it is still about getting together and sharing a lavish meal. Where Christmas has become mostly about buying and receiving gifts, Halloween has been stripped of its spookiness in favor of smiling witches and hoardes of candy. Thanksgiving, despite its football games and talk of Black Friday sales is still, at its heart, about getting together with family and enjoying a communal meal. Somehow, it's managed to retain its solemnity in the face of an economy that strives to capitalize on every holiday. I must admit, it has probably survived due to its built-in commercial aspect: people must buy food. But somehow, that's okay. Because the commercialism does not, and it seems cannot, interfere with the "point" of the day - the people you dine with, and giving thanks for the bounty of our lives. Somehow, Thanksgiving retains its purity through the commercial haze. And thus, I feel it deserves the title of "best" American holiday. __________________ http://bash.org/?top "It is useless for sheep to pass a resolution in favor of vegetarianism while wolves remain of a different opinion." -- William Randolph Inge
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11-14-2007, 11:30 PM	#2
€uroMeinke L'Hédoniste Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: A.S.C.O.T. Posts: 8,671	Sorry - Columbus Day is still the best __________________ I would believe only in a God that knows how to Dance. Friedrich Nietzsche
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11-14-2007, 11:38 PM	#3
Disneyphile SQUIRREL! Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: On the curbside. Posts: 5,098	It is definitely a great holiday, because it doesn't discriminate by religious differences - it's about coming together with loved ones. However, Ken and I are really looking forward to spending the holiday with just each other this year, because we've yet to have a Thanksgiving alone. (Please do NOT offer condolences, as some have in the past - we consider it a good thing. ) My parents are very supportive of that, but insisted on funding our dinner, of which we're planning on a quiet big-ass meal at Katella Deli (1/2 pound of turkey and all the fixins and pumpkin pie for just $14.99!), and we know we'll still have leftovers from that place, and we don't have to worry about cooking or cleaning up - just quality time with each other. We'll spend the afternoon having some fun indulgent snacks (I love to put out a relish tray on that day, even just for us), playing some games, heading out to dinner, and then playing more games throughout the evening. It's truly a day off in which everyone will be busy, so we can just concentrate on us. We can't wait.
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11-14-2007, 11:39 PM	#4
Gemini Cricket ... Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 13,244	Any holiday that centers around food is the holiday for me.
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11-15-2007, 12:01 AM	#6
Bornieo: Fully Loaded Lego Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Disneyland, USA Posts: 3,704	I like May Day best!
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11-15-2007, 12:19 AM	#8
JWBear Worn Romantic Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Long Beach California Posts: 8,435	Anyone else get the day after Thanksgiving off? That's a great holiday! __________________ Unrestrained frivolity will lead to the downfall of modern society.
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11-16-2007, 10:52 AM	#9
libraryvixen is part of the resistance Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: up North Posts: 963	This year, I've been fortunate enough to get a 4 day weekend. My boss and I had to work at another library branch for a librarian and her 2nd in command that were gone. In turn, the librarian will be coming to my branch to work while my boss and I get the weekend off. Woo! __________________ Yes, I'm still alive!
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