What Is Thanksgiving & Why Is It Celebrated?
A form of thanks to God for bountiful Harvest in USA & Canada
Britannica said the annual Thanksgiving holiday that is celebrated both in the USA and Canada is a joyous reflection of the blessings of the past years. It was Abraham Lincoln who first declared Thanksgiving Annual holiday in 1863, after successful lobbying by a lady in the Congress named Serah Josepha Hale.
In the United States, the annual Thanksgiving Day is usually celebrated on the fourth Thursday in November, according to the proclamation by the congress, in 1942 when Franklin D Roosevelt was then the President.
The Thanksgiving holiday is celebrated with pomp and pageantry, families and friends travel far and wide to joyous feasting and camaraderie.
The Origin Of Thanksgiving
It was customary for the early settlers in USA and Canada to celebrate conquests, victories, bountiful harvest generally. The USA started their first thanksgiving in 1621 when the settlers in the New England (now the USA) shared their bountiful harvest with the Wampanoag (Native American Indians).
In Canada, the first thanksgiving was celebrated in 1578 when Martin Frobisher, who went on an exploration to conquer Canada celebrated safe passage. And since 1957, it has been celebrated on second Monday in October.
Thanksgiving, therefore, has its roots in historical, cultural and religious connotation.
There are seventeen other countries around the globe that also celebrate Thanksgiving. These are among them are Brazil, Grenada, St. Lucia, Liberia, the Philippines, Leiden (in the Netherlands) and Norfolk Island (an external territory of Australia located in the Pacific Ocean between New Zealand and New Caledonia).
A Typical Thanksgiving Prayer ā Table Overflows by Joanna Fuchs
āāWe thank you for the turkey, the gravy, and the dressing. Dear Lord, this table overflows with Thy abundant blessing. Let us always be aware that all gifts come from You, and may we serve Your heavenly Will in everything we do. Amen.āā
How Did Turkey Become The Thanksgiving Meal?
The British colonists hunted wild fowls (which today could be turkeys, goose or ducks) which were in abundance in the newly conquered land. One of the colonists, William Bradford, who had a journal mentioned that the wildfowl was voluminous, and it was assumed this must be a turkey. Turkey became a natural choice to celebrate the first thanksgiving.
Thanksgiving treats include among others roast potatoes, stuffing, cranberry sauce, gravy and pumpkin pie. There is plenty of pumpkin harvest at this time of the year, leftover from the Halloween celebration.
Also, it is important to know cooking methods matters. Potatoes especially can be cooked a day before to reduce the starch and glucose content. This will ultimately help the blood sugar.
The Dark Side Of Thanksgiving Celebration
The Native Americans up till today do not celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday. This is because it reminds them of the brutal atrocities by the settlers (The British), killing and stealing their land, and eroding their culture. So it is the National Day of mourning to them.
The conquest of the Native American Indians and driving them further into the bush and forced possession of their land is not what these people want to remember.
āOne indication of moral progress in the United States would be the replacement of Thanksgiving Day and its self-indulgent family feasting with a National Day of Atonement accompanied by a self-reflective collective fasting.ā Professor Robert Jensen, University of Texas, at Austin.
The United Association of Native American Indians, have started to organise protests on Thanksgiving day (since 1970) to signify their displeasure of what the British Colonists did.
Belen Fernadez called it annual genocide whitewash, said:
āāAmericans continues to celebrate a holiday that whitewashes the mass killings of millions of Native Americans.āā
What Thanksgiving Should Mean To You
Although it is an annual holiday, celebrated with friends, families and loved ones, we should take it as an opportunity to express gratitude for the abundant blessings in our lives. There is always something to be grateful for.
And being grateful surpasses just food, but should include gratitude for protection, health and abundance, to the whole circle of our connection, and being willing to give back according to what you have been blessed with. Your gratitude should respect the Earth.
āGratitude and abundance are reciprocal things. When we take from the land, we should also give back ā through growing, recycling, composting and replanting.āā Nikki Sanchez (an indigenous Native American Scholar and filmmaker)
Also, it is important to think about the environment and celebrate with less waste. This is because it is customary to create a large quantity of waste during the holiday season, with huge wrapping papers, unwanted gifts, so many foods are prepared, much more than needed, and the rest is dumped.
To reduce or eliminate waste, you can prepare broth from the leftovers, freeze to eat another time or distribute to others. The problem here is that virtually everyone is cooking, and probably overcooking as well.
Another way we can reduce waste is to deviate from cooking what everybody is cooking, turkey, pumpkins, potatoes. Mass production of these food items put a strain on the system and on the earth. How about changing the menu to suit your own taste and culture. An African American can substitute yam for potatoes, turkey can be substituted for fish, goose, duck or chicken. These alternatives are easily available throughout the year.
How will Thanksgiving Be Different This Year?
This year 2020 is very different because of the incidences of COVID-19, as we all try to adjust to the pandemic. Ensure fewer people are inside the house. Have a wider area if need be, and practice social distances.
Sanitise the utensils, and wash hands regularly. Make sure there is no hugging, kissing, handshake or embracing. If possible, limit the number of people to your household only, and greet other members, friends and families online.
The best attitude to celebrate Thanksgiving because of cross-infection of COVID-19 is to limit the celebration to people in the same household. This is because COVID-19 is person-to-person transmission increasing the risk of cross-infection.
Reducing cross-infection will prevent the spread of COVID-19, which in turn will lessen the burden on our health services. And more importantly, everyone is safe.
