We are an enthusiastic bunch where I come from, and that means taking advantage of every opportunity to celebrate any good thing that comes along. We start hanging colored lights before Halloween and resist taking them down till after Valentine’s and we’re perfectly willing to put up banners and flags and balloons for anything in between.
I suppose one explanation for this party-people-type behavior is that we really, truly, love to gather, and play, and sing, and dance, and nibble, and feast for a monumental day. . . or for no reason at all.
But even coming from the original “Whobilation,” place, I’ve noticed a strange thing. People everywhere–not just here–are starting the festivities way earlier than ever before. Now don’t get me wrong. I love that I can turn on the radio, right now and find just as much Christmas music as I want. I enjoy the lights coming on all over the neighborhood, and I even get a kick out of Christmas ads on the radio. But…
…what happened to Thanksgiving?
I’m not actually ready to skip it, even in the mad furry to get to Christmas cheer.
I want this time to feel grateful. I need it, because it makes me a better person…or at least it keeps me trying to be. I want to remember the things that really matter…and be grateful for them–always.
So, I may put up my lights before the next storm. And I may play my Grinch cd before we make all that stuffing. And I may move the nativity box a bit closer to the garage door. But I utterly refuse to submerge myself in the “magic of Christmas”– until I’ve filled my cup to the brim with pilgrims and leaves and cornbread and turkey…and the joy of giving thanks, for all of it.
“The Pilgrims made seven times more graves than huts. No Americans have been more impoverished than these who, nevertheless, set aside a day of thanksgiving.”
~H.U.Westermayer~
Jacob and I were just talking about this yesterday, in fact. Just on the way home from your house we saw 3 houses with lights and Christmas trees. I think people are just feeling that perpetual clock speedup, and the season is just too short for them. I think that may be why it takes me longer and longer each year to put it all away…
But I agree, giving thanks comes first. 🙂
Yeah–I’m ok with the early…it makes me happy sooner and longer. Just no skipping!
Mmmm… mash potatoes!
I like Thanksgiving! 🙂 And I like food!!! Thanksgiving is one of those days that used to last forever when I was younger. Now it seems to rush by because everyone’s looking forward to Christmas. I don’t mind trying to slow that down. Christmas is awesome… but it’s just as easy to let it linger after the fact, instead of bringing it on earlier and earlier. There’s no problem with celebrating New Year’s with Christmas still up!
AMEN!
Thanksgiving is a BIG holiday to me. Probably because food is involved. But I always decorate for Thanksgiving. I even decorate my office at work with turkeys!!!!
Only 8 more days!!!! Yum, yum!!!
Oh, I know! I love it so much–the day before we are making all kinds of pies and jello and thawing out the turkey. We just got our decorations out last night–so it’s real to me now. :]