Beyond Turkey - Five Things to Enjoy This Thanksgiving

By Daniel Paul D'Aniello  | 

Thanksgiving has deep roots. In the 17th Century, Plymouth colonists and the local Native Americans had a harvest feast. From there, the other colonies and then states celebrated giving thanks for a successful harvest that would contribute to their survival. President Lincoln finally nationalized the holiday by proclaiming that it would take place each November. The feast is one of the most popular and most American traditions today.

As the years passed, the tradition has morphed into a wonderful gluttony celebration. Today, Americans do not have to worry about a successful fall harvest to guarantee winter survival. Still, we take the time to celebrate and give thanks for the many blessings we have.

Yes, partaking in the consumption of a turkey has become a loved element of the tradition. But there is so much more to Thanksgiving than that. Here are five things to enjoy this Thanksgiving.

1. Time with Family.

Before the haste, hustle, and bustle of the Christmas season, Thanksgiving provides a great opportunity for families to gather without the burden of gift giving. Together, people across the country gather to enjoy their own version of the feast. True, there are always interesting dynamics in families as not everyone gets along. But the holiday as a wonderful way of turning tensions into frivolity. Truly, Thanksgiving gives Americans the chance to stop, take a deep breath, relax and enjoy their families.

2. Honoring Tradition.

Like the Fourth of July, celebrating Thanksgiving allows Americans to tap into our rich heritage. It is worth reflecting that the early colonists faced great challenges and willingly chose to face them head on. Many died travelling to the New World and those who survived had to fight daily for their existence. And yet, they survived and eventually thrived. Thanksgiving is about American resilience as much as it is giving thanks. And in these troubled political and economic times, it is nice and perhaps much needed to tap into that message of survival.

3. Letting go of your diet!

There will be dozens of articles advocating for people to be careful in their Thanksgiving food consumption. Some will argue to stay away from the candied yams and from the rich stuffing. Some heretics will even argue for people to stay away from the beloved pumpkin and pecan pies. Enjoy your Thanksgiving! After watching your diet the entire year, you can afford to enjoy the many delectable offerings of the holiday. There is even scientific evidence that suggests consuming a large number of calories sporadically can ignite your metabolism! Enjoy your food, but come Friday, go back to your careful eating habits!

4. It sets the season.

Thanksgiving allows us to ease out of fall and accept that winter is approaching. While there will be still a few weeks of fall remaining, Thanksgiving signals that autumn is on the way out and winter will be barreling in. While winter is not everyone's favorite season, having the seasons change is like adding a new spice to your recipes - our taste buds get bored and so do our other senses! Having winter is another way to shake things up and Thanksgiving is that great marker that tells us to prepare. Gird your loins!

5. Freedom from Consumerism

Thanksgiving is that one holiday that retailers have not yet tainted with their stench of materialism. Yes, people purchase turkeys and the like, but the amount of money spent on these items is completely dwarfed by the gift-giving bonanza of the upcoming Christmas season. Enjoy your turkey day - free from the stress and mixed messages of the 'spend to no end' culture.

So there you have it - five things to enjoy this Thanksgiving that are beyond the typical turkey, stuffing, and football. Whatever you do this Turkey Day, remember that Americans of all stripes are celebrating in some way. In an age of divisiveness, it is nice to have something that brings people together.

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