Defending Thanksgiving: Overshadowed Holiday
By Brodie Mansfield, Opinion Editor
Each year in late October, stores change their displays, decorations are switched, and products are changed all to fit the Christmas theme. Over time, this has become commonplace, but there’s a key holiday in November that isn’t getting the attention it deserves. Thanksgiving is being forgotten and completely overshadowed by Christmas. The holiday season’s marketing goes from Halloween to Christmas every year, forgetting one of the most wholesome holidays of the year.
Thanksgiving is one of the few holidays that isn’t focused on material things. Christmas, whilst having many cultural and spiritual meanings for Christians and non-Christians, the modern commercialized Christmas dominates public consumerism perception. This is in stark contrast to Thanksgiving’s publicity, as it remains a holiday centered around gratitude, reflection, and family. Thanksgiving doesn’t require expensive decorations or a countdown to a big sale, it’s simply a time to gather with loved ones and appreciate the time you have with them.
In addition, Thanksgiving also carries a cultural weight that often gets overlooked in today’s society. The holiday is built on traditions, whether it be family recipes passed down from generation to generation, an annual gathering, or shared traditions, this gives Thanksgiving a unique place among the holidays. When Christmas overshadows Thanksgiving in the stores, attitude, and presence we lose some of Thanksgiving’s very existence. People forget to appreciate these meaningful moments in favor of consumerism-based mega holidays, ultimately sacrificing the space Thanksgiving needs in order to stay relevant by beginning Christmas preparations in October.
In today’s consumerism based world, allowing Thanksgiving to have its proper time is even more important than ever. In our society, status relies on having the newest clothes or having being a part of the latest trend which is why we need a holiday about gratitude now more than ever. Thanksgiving brings people together and invites them to slow down for a day and simply enjoy the presence of their loved ones. These values and Thanksgiving’s purpose shouldn’t be overshadowed or rushed by the other holidays, it deserves its own time for being.
Next, Thanksgiving serves as a sort of check point before diving into the Christmas season. Thanksgiving is the last truly calm time before the chaos of Christmas takes hold. From Christmas lists and decorating the house to studying for finals, the Christmas season is very fast-paced. Thanksgiving can be a time to slow down and prepare for the hectic next season, but this time is being robbed by Christmas time starting earlier and earlier. With this shortening of Thanksgiving peace, we lose valuable moments of calm, and end up forgetting what more Thanksgiving can be besides a turkey dinner.
Ultimately, defending Thanksgiving isn’t about claiming that one holiday is better than another; it is about giving recognition to a holiday being overshadowed in today’s society. Each holiday contributes their own unique traditions, culture, and history, making it important to not let any be overshadowed. When a holiday like Thanksgiving is overshadowed, however, it truly speaks to society’s values. Times are changing and some things may fall out of favor, but Thanksgiving shouldn’t be one of them. Celebrate the holiday, give Thanksgiving the attention it deserves, resist the November rush into Christmas, and instead value Thanksgiving’s humanity and gratitude, preserving a holiday that should never be overlooked or forgotten.