I love turkey, stuffing and cranberry sauce.
So, Thanksgiving has always been a pleasurable day.
And the story about the pilgrims and the indians, it was all heart warming.
But then i learned the real reason why Thanksgiving is a national US holiday.
(and a falling out with family)
I do not celebrate Thanksgiving anymore. But i still prepare turkey dinner when the turkeys are on sale.
A Day of Thanks Giving
Long before Turkey Day, there was a ritual performed by many Christian in giving a day of thanks.
Say, you missed becoming an ex-person by "that-much", you would announce a day of thanks giving, and spend that day telling God thanks.
Or, say you received a windfall, you would announce a day of thanks giving
Or, say things weren't going to smoothly, so you decide to spend a day giving thanks for what you did have.
This is what "thanksgiving" is, and where it came from. I feel this was a good practice. One that was good for the soul and thus also for the community.
Thanksgiving Day is born
During the civil war, the north was conscripting people off the streets of New York. This caused people in New York to get upset. They started forming up into mobs. President Lincoln ordered the army to fire down the streets to disperse the mob.
Yes, this means what you think it means. They pointed their muskets down the street, and fired. People died. Much screaming happened, and the mob was dispersed.
However, word got around the union and people were upset about what had happened. (you don't go shooting your own people) Much agitation was brewing.
So, President Lincoln called for a national day of thanksgiving. To ask the masses to calm down and reflect.
This day continued each year, and has become a national holiday.
So many lies in our history texts.
"The pilgrims started Thanksgiving" - they may have had a day of thanks, but it is not where it started
"Lincoln freed the slaves" - you can actually make a case that Lincoln turned everyone into slaves that day. It is also that time when congress was told to go home, and they NEVER CAME BACK.
"The north was the good guys and the victors" - the south was winning, and then the north announced they had won… and all the south representatives accepted it. Very strange. Also, the north killed women and children, tore up all the infrastructure, and left the south a hell hole. Not really the "good guys"
This was not what i was taught in elementary school
Currently i really dislike "Thanksgiving Day"
I eat turkey on that day, only because its cheap, and i like turkey, and i usually have lots left over when that Thursday comes around.
I do not get together with family. And, to me, it is just another day to get things done.
I have heard of FriendsGiving, and i think that might be something to get in on. Or start.
That sounds like a much better day to me.
Turkey from ClipArt-Library