Hands down, Thanksgiving has got to be the most underrated holiday in America. I’ll even add on by saying it’s the best one. Why you might ask? For me, Thanksgiving isn’t even about the food, it’s about introspection. Many Americans live and die with Christmas being the number one holiday. Now, I get it, since it is a lot more “fun” compared to Thanksgiving, which is known for sitting around with that one weird uncle we all have. But the requirement of providing gifts for pretty much everyone you know blindsides the holiday due to this need for giving and getting.
Christmas’s greediness isn’t the only reason why Thanksgiving is the best holiday. There’s so much more to it than the average person sees. Despite the history of Thanksgiving’s evolution throughout the years, the initial start came from the Pilgrims of Plymouth, Massachusetts. After their harsh winter of 1620, they teamed up with the Wampanoag tribe and learned to fish, plant, and hunt. With the help of the tribe, by the following August, the colonists were able to get enough food for the community through the Winter. Because of the immense debt they owed the Wampanoag tribe, they decided to host a “Thanksgiving” dinner to celebrate success and thank the tribe for their help, although many people have cited that this version of history is incorrect in many ways.
Regardless, not only did the meal express the gratitude the colonists had for the tribe, but also for the food they now held in their hands, additionally, it represented peace between two historically warring groups, the natives and the colonists. So whether you believe this side of history or not, having learned the origin of Thanksgiving, it truly shows the testament to celebrating love for others and being grateful for everything that you have.
Continuing, the reason Thanksgiving isn’t about the food but rather introspection is because it truly is a holiday where you can look within yourself. What I mean by that is, that every single day, we take for granted the things we have, the love we maintain, and the amazing community we live in. Having this holiday to remind people to be appreciative of where we are now, even if we have a lot or a little, gives the day substance. No matter if you say, “I love you,” to your family and friends regularly or not, this holiday makes sure to give it a more significant meaning and not forget the true power of those words. What you have today, whether it’s the people in your life or the materials you have, can change within a split second, so it’s important to value it.
