Thanksgiving is upon us again this year, Collegiettes, and every year one problem persists that seems to get worse with age: the lack of appreciation for Thanksgiving. I’m not even talking about “I’m thankful for…” but simply the fact that there is a holiday before all the ones that come in December. Every year, the gap between Halloween and Christmas to get amped for Thanksgiving seems to grow smaller and smaller; this year the weekend following Halloween, I went grocery shopping at Stop and Shop to find Christmas decorations already for sale. Thanksgiving doesn’t get the appreciation it deserves for our day and age. It becomes more of a measurement for Black Friday sales and the beginning of the true holiday season. Why can’t we go back to the time when there were actually Thanksgiving decorations to buy, books to color and hand-turkey decorations to make?
Thanksgiving can be, and should be, a whole other holiday to get excited for, especially during the stressful finals week. Thanksgiving means a record-setting amount of food, elastic waistband pants, some family, parades and football. As a kid, I looked forward to Thanksgiving because you didn’t have to go to church beforehand, like you have to for Christmas, depending on your family. Now as an adult, I look forward to Thanksgiving because I can spend quality time with my family instead of giving a list of gifts I want. As I get older, Thanksgiving seems more special simply BECAUSE of the lack of gifts for it; there’s less material hopes and just a sincere love of f(ood)amily.
It’s hard to really get in a Thanksgiving mood in college since for us UMass Collegiettes, because right after Thanksgiving is our last week of classes, followed by finals. It can feel like there’s really only two weeks between now and the full-blown holiday season. But lately, celebrating the holidays too early into fall seems like the emotional equivalent to eating too much chocolate on Halloween – it’s satisfying but too much too soon takes away the fun – whether that fun is continuing to eat Halloween candy a full week later or celebrating the December holidays in actual December. December feels extra special because the time and holiday cheer is quick and fleeting; but that feeling to Carpe Diem the holiday time while you can is what makes you appreciate it more.
So I argue that we should bring Thanksgiving back: to stop obsessing over Black Friday/Cyber Monday sales and the holiday music on the radio, to stop beginning any wish lists (aside from the typical Pintrest board) crazy early and to make decorations of chain links in Brown, red and yellow colors. Realize that Thanksgiving gives you more memories to create with your friends, family and significant others based off of food and happy feelings without the pressures and expectations of material possessions. The true holiday season of Starbucks red cups, holiday radio stations and specialized cookies will be here soon enough, so bring back November and a holiday dedicated solely to f(ood)amily. So everyone, please sit back and at least let people like me have this!
And one more Thanksgiving turkey gif to get everyone in the mood:
Happy Thanksgiving, Collegiettes!