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November 19, 2013

Michelle Miles on Thanksgiving: The Forgotten Holiday

I love Halloween. But not for the gore and gross stuff. I love it because it’s FUN. Because the decorations are fun and it’s officially FALL in my book.

What I don’t love is that Christmas decorations start to creep into the stores before Halloween is even over. I’m sure you’ve noticed this disturbing reoccurrence. It seems like it gets earlier and earlier every year. For Christmas and then for Valentine’s. There will be chocolate hearts on display by January 2 – you watch.

But I digress. It seems like we jump from Halloween to Christmas. We start the Christmas shopping madness earlier and earlier every year. This year, we get the added bonus of having stores open ON Thanksgiving morning. Before we know it, stores just won’t CLOSE for Thanksgiving.



This is an injustice if you ask me. What about the people who have to work at these stores? Don’t they deserve to have a holiday full of turkey and football? I mean, there really aren’t any decorations for Thanksgiving either. You don’t see people putting out giant blow-up turkeys in their yard. Or decorating their houses with turkey lights.

It’s sad that it’s come to this. Thanksgiving is like the skipped over holiday. “Oh, it’s just thanksgiving.” HEY, y’all. The pilgrims DIED trying to get to the New World. Let’s not forget that. Let’s not forget the pilgrims celebrated the first thanksgiving for THREE DAYS. Let’s not forget that this is supposed to be a day of thanking God for all that we have. Let’s not forget that this was declared a National Holiday in 1863. Not the national “It’s time to shop for Christmas” event. I don’t see any politicians clamoring to make THAT a national holiday.

Hey I’m all for decorating for Christmas right after Thanksgiving but not before. I’m also all for early Christmas shopping…but on thanksgiving? Really? I want to enjoy my turkey and dressing and football without the stress of holiday shopping or decorating for Christmas. Let’s enjoy our turkey day before the rest of the holiday madness begins. Can we? I mean the holidays only come around once a year but that doesn’t mean we can skip one to get to the other one.

So this Thanksgiving, stop and ENJOY it. Forget about Christmas until the next day or, heck, even December 1. Enjoy that turkey and dressing and cranberry. Enjoy stuffing yourself with desserts you only eat on this holiday. Enjoy spending time with your family. Whether it’s watching football or playing football in the front yard. For me, Thanksgiving is a time to slow down and cherish the day rather than rush around spending all my money looking for the perfect gift. That will come later. Much later.

This Thanksgiving, I’m giving thanks for my family and friends, for having a roof over my head and food on the table.

What about you?

4 comments:

Vicki Batman, sassy writer said...

Hi, Michelle! I don't think of Thanksgiving as being forgotten. It's the kick off of family time. And following is five to six more weeks of family and friends, fun, food and laughter.

Sylvia said...

Hi Michelle, I agree with Vicki. I think of it as a kick off of the holidays, but I also think it's being forgotten. Now, it's the kick off to Christmas shopping and oh, let's not eat Turkey, let's go shopping. I think we need to go back our roots and remember this day as the day of thanksgiving for what we have and how most of us wouldn't be here if it wasn't for those Pilgrims making the journey to the new world. I'm boycotting any store that opens on Thanksgiving day this year. That's Macy's, Wal*Mart, Sears and KMart. Three of the four were easy to boycott, but Macy's? Really? The day after Thanksgiving is no big deal, but employees need to spend time with their families just like the rest of us. Stay home, be with your family, and watch some football.

Sylvia said...

By the way, good luck on the new release today. I'm going to go order my copy now.

Alisha said...

Well..lol..I wish I took a pic but they DO have Thanksgiving decorations. This one house near mine decorates for everything! And now they have big Blow Up turkeys in their yard! So yeah, there is 1 person that I know who decorates for Thanksgiving..lol! I agree with you, let's enjoy our turkey and family time and think back on the Pilgrims and that first Thanksgiving with the Indians. I do think it kicks off the holidays though but really, I think Halloween kicks it off too. I have never shopped on Black Friday and never will, unless it's online. I shop the last couple of days before Christmas! I have so much fun rushing around getting all the gifts with my husband. We go power shopping, go to Starbucks and have late dinners out while the kids are at home. I even shop on Christmas Eve. I guess I'm a nut but all the rush makes it extra fun. I have a lot of fun at the liquor store too..lol...I never go unless it's Christmas, otherwise I just get wine at the grocery store but going into the liquor store is so much fun with all the holiday displays, gift wrapped Crown, etc. The alcoholic eggnog and everyone in there is so dang happy, wearing their scarves, stocking up on Bailey's and Frangelica. I think I got off topic..lol! Great post, Michelle! And happy release day! Woohoo! Now everyone go buy Michelle's book, Have Yourself a Merry Little Latte!I'm gonna go snag mine!