ThanksgivingDay,ascelebratedinNorthAmerica,isatimetogatherwithfamilyandfriendstogivethanksforthemanyblessingsenjoyedbythesenationsandtheircitizens.However,tomanypeople,itsmeaningislost.Ithasbecomesimplyanotherdayforhugemeals,dinnerparties,get-togethersorreunions.WhatdoesThanksgivingmeantoyou?
Turkeydinners,cranberries,candiedyams,stuffing,mashedpotatoes,pumpkinpieandfamilygatherings—theseareallcommonlyassociatedwithmostAmericansandCanadiansyearlycelebrationofgivingthanks—ThanksgivingDay!
IntheUnitedStates,ThanksgivingisonthefourthThursdayofNovember.InCanada,itisthesecondMondayinOctober.Onthisholiday,aThanksgivingmealispreparedwithallthetrimmings;familiesgathertogetherandtalk,whileotherswatchagameoraparadefilledwithpilgrims,Indiansandothercolonialfigures.SomefamiliesmayevenhavetheirownyearlyThanksgivingtraditions.
WhatcomestomindwhenyouthinkofThanksgiving?DoyoupictureatimeofthankfulnesstowardsGod—orisitmerelyoneofeating,partyingorwatchingfootball?
Sadly,thelatteriswhatThanksgivinghasbecometomost.Theyhaveforgottenwhythedaywasestablished.Itsmeaninghasslowlydeteriorated,andisnowalmostcompletelylostunderacloudofmediahype,salespitches,marketingtacticsandblitzcommercialism.
