The second we flip the calendar to November 1st, society accepts that it’s Christmastime again. Don’t get me wrong, I fully embrace the early celebration. But, there is seemingly this war pit against Thanksgiving and an early Christmas every year, with Thanksgiving usually losing the battle. Thanksgiving has always had a special place in my heart, and deserves far more love in return for all the wonderful things that it brings.
First of all, it is a holiday completely centered around comfort food. Stuffing and mashed potatoes are their own food group in my opinion and I always look forward to a nice big meal. Topping the day off with pumpkin pie is the recipe to success. Especially after eating cafeteria food for months on end, a home cooked meal is always a cause for celebration. Don’t forget your loose clothes, because a food baby is inevitable today.
The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is a high point of my year. The sight of Al Roker anchoring the parade, like that uncle that you see once a year. The familiar floats and balloons. The Rockettes performance. Santa at the end of the parade, officially welcoming the Christmas season. The slew of holiday commercials that may have been playing for awhile, but who really watches live TV regularly? It is one of the greatest traditions.
I will argue to death that the Thanksgiving episodes of TV shows beat any other holiday themed episode, hands down. Bonus points if it is a 90s sitcom. What feels more homey than a Friends or Seinfeld Thanksgiving? More modern shows like Gilmore Girls and Modern Family definitely do a great job too. There is something so warm and nostalgic about TV Thanksgiving. Binge watch your favorites during your eating breaks to elevate the holiday spirit.
Thanksgiving has also remained such a constant in my life. For other holidays, we often rotate which relative is hosting, but Thanksgiving always stays the same. The familiarity creates such nostalgia, because I still spend Thanksgiving in the exact same way as I did as a child. It is always so great to be in a room filled with family. Another big tradition is to share wish lists for Christmas while we have the family all in one place. I know it’s an interesting concept since Thanksgiving should be devoid of materialism, but for me, it’s less about the consumer culture and more about the excitement of Christmas being around the corner. In New York, it’s almost always cold on Thanksgiving, but I love gathering together with my family, with the warmth from the kitchen and all the love keeping me nice and toasty.
Thanksgiving is the nostalgic kickoff to a season of warmth, excitement, and reminiscence. It is a time to reflect on everything wonderful and life just seems to get a little better at this time of year. This holiday is exactly what the soul needs after the turmoil of daily life. It is not religion based, so I feel that more than any other day, we get to celebrate the shared idea of expressing gratitude as a society. Having something that we can all agree on is so refreshing in this day in age. Thanksgiving really creates a universal energy throughout the air on that third Thursday in November, where everyone allows themselves to indulge in the joy of a holiday. I cannot think of anything greater for us to come together for.