Table of Contents

• A Bit of History
  • What is its Origin?
  • The Traditional Menu
  • The Latino Contribution
• Where Else is Thanksgiving Celebrated?
  • The United States is not the only country celebrating this Holiday
  • What It Does Not Mean
  • What It Does Mean
  • What Shoud I Be Thankful For?
  • What We Did Not Receive
  • Who Else Should I Thank?
• Conclusion

A Bit of History

What’s the Origin?

Once again we’re celebrating Thanksgiving in the United States. For those who do not live in this country, this is a national holiday that is celebrated annually on the fourth Thursday of November of each year. The day commemorates a feast with food from their first crops that the Pilgrims offered in 1621 to the natives of these lands as a gesture of appreciation for their welcome. And to God, the gratefulness for the crops received that year. The Pilgrims were the first immigrants who came to these lands from England in search of freedom of religion.

Then in 1861, it was Abraham Lincoln who officially declared the holiday to be held at the end of November. President Franklin Roosevelt, in the 1930s, tried to move the holiday towards the beginning of November but it was such the popular discontent that he officially set the fourth Thursday of November to celebrate Thanksgiving.

The Traditional Menu

Traditionally, the celebration includes a family dinner with food from the new world, those the Pilgrims had to learn to grow and harvest, such as pumpkin (also called squash), potatoes, sweet potatoes, cranberries, cauliflower, and corn, among others. With them, different dishes are prepared that are also traditional, such as pumpkin pie, mashed potatoes with gravy, baked sweet potatoes and cranberry sauce to accompany the traditional roasted turkey.

The Latino Contribution

Latinos added their culinary touch increasing the list of varied foods with typical dishes such as; rice with black or red beans, or rice with pigeon peas, fried plantains, tostones, boiled yucca with mojo, and tamales, among others; replacing the poultry with roasted pork, as well. All very tasty!

Where Else is Thanksgiving Celebrated?

The United States is not the only country celebrating this Holiday

There are other countries or regions, although perhaps on different dates and with another history background, where something similar is celebrated, as well. Those countries or regions are Canada, China, Germany, Grenada (Caribbean country), Japan, Norfolk Island (independent territory of Australia), South Korea, Liberia, and Vietnam.

What It Does Not Mean

For many in the United States who are unaware of the origin of Thanksgiving, the holiday is just one more reason to eat and drink in excess at large parties with friends and family. For others, it is the beginning of the shopping season for the upcoming holidays since the next day is the famous, or should I say, infamous Black Friday, where many unleash their animal instinct to get good bargains.

What It Does Mean

But, the true meaning of Thanksgiving has nothing to do with parties, drunkenness, the feast, clothes, luxury, looks, and excesses. It has nothing to do with that! The true meaning is gratitude. The gratitude to God for the blessings received during the year, and if you do not believe in God, to the supreme being that you worship, you call it what you want, for me it is God. That is the true meaning of the holiday

Personally, it is one of my favorite festivities for the possibility to bring to a halt once a year in your life, and reflect on the blessings received and express gratitude for them. I think that even if you live in a country where this celebration is not observed, you should take a day, whenever you prefer, to do it. You don’t have to make a big fuss about it, nor share it with others. If you have friends or family who want to join you in doing that, much better!

What Should I Be Thankful For?

Think for a moment, how many things have you received this year? – Nothing?

Surely you are reading this article on a computer, cell phone or tablet. Do you know how many people do not have access to any of these devices? It also means that you have an internet connection. Do you know how many people cannot access it? There are even countries where free internet is prohibited.

When you woke up this morning, did you have a roof over your head? Did you wake up in a bed? Have you ever thought that when we sleep we are unconscious at the mercy of any act of evil or any type of natural disaster, and yet that didn’t happen?

You got up and went to the bathroom. Do you know how many people do not have a bathroom near their bedroom, with a toilet, running water, soap, shampoo, and electric light?

All of this is just starting the day, without even getting dressed, having breakfast, and going to work. Do you know how many people would love to have clothing, have something for breakfast and have a job?

And the list goes on and on. Worst of all, there are very few people that value these things. The majority of us either just take them for granted or live complaining about each and every one of them.

What We Did Not Receive

There are also things we don’t receive that we still have to thank, such as diseases, calamities, and even that “thing” we want so much and we cannot get. And because we want it so much, we don’t ponder the consequences to realize that in the end, we might be better off not having it.

I invite you to continue with the list of items you give for granted and give thanks for each one of them. Although some of them might not be exactly what you would like to have, they still are worthy to bring a halt once a year in your life to acknowledge them and be grateful for them.

Who Else Should I Thank?

Moreover, I will go beyond thanking God and ask you; How many people do you have to thank for being available when you needed them? How many people do you have to thank because they got you out of trouble or gave you a helping hand? How many have called you to find out how you were doing? How many were by your side at bad times? How many have genuinely remembered your birthday? How many have offered their shoulders for you to cry on or have just listened while you were venting? How many friends? How many relatives?

How about your partner, wife or husband? When was the last time you thanked her or him for handing you anything, for giving you a plate with hot food, for going with you to the doctor or the supermarket, for putting up with you when you are in a bad mood?

How about your pets? Don’t you have to thank them for welcoming you with so much joy every time you get home as if it was a century they don’t see you when it was only five minutes? How about the many hours of company they have given you? All those times you forgot to take them for a walk or did not feed them on time and they still licked your hand when you pet them? Are you sure you have nothing to thank them for?

And your neighbors? You have nothing to thank them for? What about the one who watches over the house when you are on vacation, or the one who takes care of your pets or waters the plants? Or that neighbor who saved your garbage can from being crushed by a car? Or the one who brought you a letter that was misdelivered?

Many of you reading all this might say, This year, I lost a loved one, I lost my job, I was diagnosed with such a disease or any other misfortune. I tell you that I am very sorry and I wish you the best. I really wish God bless you and your family, and I hope when you get out of that adversity, that experience resulted in becoming a better person, a stronger person.

CONCLUSION

I fervently believe that despite any fatality we may have or have had in our lives, we still have a lot to thank not only God but many others around us.

This Thanksgiving day, remember the true meaning of the celebration. It’s not about parties, food, drink, clothes, and fun. That is not important. You may have to spend the whole day alone or working. It doesn’t matter. Just remember that none of that is important on this day.

What’s important here is gratitude. It is to give thanks and it is not necessary to go very far or make so much noise. You can humbly start where you are, with a prayer.

“Give thanks in all circumstances”
1 Thessalonians 5:18

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Thanks for reading my blog.

Have a Wonderful Thanksgiving Day!

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