What is Thanksgiving REALLY?

Raven · Post by **Raven** » Wed Nov 26, 2008 8:16 am

Yes I am American, and so I celebrate that most venerated of American harvest festivals known as Thanksgiving. Even as I live in England. For the past five years. But why?

What is so ingrained in me that I should insist on celebrating, even though I no longer live on American soil?

Lets have a look at what Thanksgiving really is.

Did the pilgrim fathers (as the English call them) start it?

Well yes actually....

The Pilgrim Governor William Bradford proclaimed a day of thanksgiving to be shared by all the colonists and the neighboring Native Americans. They invited Squanto and the other Indians to join them in their celebration. Their chief, Massasoit, and 90 braves came to the celebration which lasted for 3 days. They played games, ran races, marched and played drums. The Indians demonstrated their skills with the bow and arrow and the Pilgrims demonstrated their musket skills. Exactly when the festival took place is uncertain, but it is believed the celebration took place in mid-October.

And since all this took place in the early 1600's, it was actually still the English colonies.

Okay we have established the English connection, but that still doesnt answer why I still celebrate.

The custom of an annually celebrated thanksgiving, held after the harvest, continued through the years. During the American Revolution (late 1770's) a day of national thanksgiving was suggested by the Continental Congress.

In 1817 New York State had adopted Thanksgiving Day as an annual custom. By the middle of the 19th century many other states also celebrated a Thanksgiving Day. In 1863 President Abraham Lincoln appointed a national day of thanksgiving. Since then each president has issued a Thanksgiving Day proclamation, usually designating the fourth Thursday of each November as the holiday.

But is that what it really means to me? I loved Thanksgiving as a child, mostly because it meant Santa was right around the corner.

Now that I am an adult, living in a foreign land, is that why I still celebrate it? (if i am honest, it still has the bringer of christmas feel about it)

I guess i celebrate it because i am still thankful. I am thankful for all that i have. It doesnt matter where i live. I am thankful for the health of my family and friends. I am thankful to even HAVE family and friends! I have a home to stay dry under, and food on my table, clothes on my back and shoes on my feet. My health is fair to middlin good. My brain works, my eyes see and my ears hear. My mouth can taste the turkey just fine.

But most important of all, I dont suffer lonliness. My husband surrounds me with his love continuously, and my friends are just a text away.

So I guess if those arent reasons to be thankful and celebrate life, then there arent any.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYBODY! NO MATTER WHERE YOU ARE!

CHEERS!

Post by **spot** » Wed Nov 26, 2008 8:18 am

And a happy Thanksgiving to you too, Raven. And a huge hug.

Raven · Post by **Raven** » Wed Nov 26, 2008 8:22 am

spot;1069286 wrote: And a happy Thanksgiving to you too, Raven. And a huge hug.
Back at ya sweet'aaaart! There is a spare place at the table if you want!

Post by **spot** » Wed Nov 26, 2008 8:44 am

You want me to ring my brother instead? He could be with you by 7 if he's not working late.

qsducks · Post by **qsducks** » Wed Nov 26, 2008 8:47 am

A morning to sleep in...a day off for everybody...sole control of the remote....the ABC/Ikea Thanksgiving parade to watch on tv tomorrow morning....the smell of my roasted bird roasting in the oven...the smell of pies, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole and those brown & serve buns.:-4

sunny104 · Post by **sunny104** » Wed Nov 26, 2008 8:52 am

Happy Thanksgiving! :-6

Raven · Post by **Raven** » Wed Nov 26, 2008 8:52 am

spot;1069298 wrote: You want me to ring my brother instead? He could be with you by 7 if he's not working late.
sounds great! give me a pm, since we moved! I dont think you have my new number either!

Post by **Oscar Namechange** » Wed Nov 26, 2008 9:04 am

I think Britain should have a thanksgiving day. Thanks for having Gordon Brown as the Prime Minister. :yh_rotfl

mikeinie · Post by **mikeinie** » Wed Nov 26, 2008 9:04 am

I think that it is a great celebration, Happy Thanksgiving.

hoppy · Post by **hoppy** » Wed Nov 26, 2008 9:46 am

A time to break bread with family and friends.

Odie · Post by **Odie** » Wed Nov 26, 2008 10:13 am

Happy Thanksgiving to my neighbours!

qsducks · Post by **qsducks** » Wed Nov 26, 2008 10:45 am

and happy thanksgiving to all our canadian friends!

Odie · Post by **Odie** » Wed Nov 26, 2008 10:55 am

Canadians had ours in October.

qsducks · Post by **qsducks** » Wed Nov 26, 2008 10:57 am

Odie;1069452 wrote: Canadians had ours in October.

Just chatting with Kaz over at the FOC and they have theirs in September.

abbey · Post by **abbey** » Wed Nov 26, 2008 11:56 am

Happy Thanksgiving to you Raven. :-4

Raven · Post by **Raven** » Wed Nov 26, 2008 12:00 pm

Thank you darling! I hope your day is blessed as well! XX

OpenMind · Post by **OpenMind** » Wed Nov 26, 2008 12:11 pm

One of the many things I am thankful for is the Forum Garden. If I had not joined FG, apart from all the amazing and wonderful friends I have made, I would not now have such a wonderful and lovely daughter.:-4:-4

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone.:-6:-6

AussiePam · Post by **AussiePam** » Wed Nov 26, 2008 1:10 pm

In solidarity with my American friends I have baked a special pecan pie and will be raising a glass to you all today!!! Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Kathy Ellen · Post by **Kathy Ellen** » Wed Nov 26, 2008 1:31 pm

Thank you Raven and a Happy Thanksgiving to you and hubby also:-4

I'm going to my brothers tomorrow and the whole family will be there. I'm so thankful for my family;)

shelbell · Post by **shelbell** » Wed Nov 26, 2008 1:53 pm

Happy Thanksgiving! And you are so right about all the blessings we have everyday but don't realize it. And yes, the smell of the turkey cooking is wonderful. mmmmmmmmmmmmm I can smell it now and it's only defrosting. :-6:)

chonsigirl · Post by **chonsigirl** » Wed Nov 26, 2008 2:54 pm

Happy Thanksgiving, Raven.

Post by **Bryn Mawr** » Wed Nov 26, 2008 3:25 pm

Hi Raven - long time no see :-4

Wishing you a wonderful Thanksgiving and a magnificent Christmas to come :-6

Nomad · Post by **Nomad** » Thu Nov 27, 2008 8:35 am

For me its about the white meat.

Also do not pass me cranberries, theres only so much room on my plate and I only want the really good stuff.

Also if you think your being clever by slipping giblets into the stuffing forget about it, Ill know so dont even try.

This is what Thanksgiving is to me.

One more thing, dont slice the pie into 14 pieces, no one wants a sliver of pie. If you cant handle pie duty pass it on to some one else. If youre going to come up short just skip the crappy stuffing and get more pie.

CARLA · Post by **CARLA** » Thu Nov 27, 2008 9:29 am

Here, here pass me the white meat and the sticky sweet potatoes.

[QUOTE]For me its about the white meat.

Also do not pass me cranberries, theres only so much room on my plate and I only want the really good stuff.

Also if you think your being clever by slipping giblets into the stuffing forget about it, Ill know so dont even try.

This is what Thanksgiving is to me.

One more thing, dont slice the pie into 14 pieces, no one wants a sliver of pie. If you cant handle pie duty pass it on to some one else. If youre going to come up short just skip the crappy stuffing and get more pie.[/QUOTE]

Post by **spot** » Thu Nov 27, 2008 1:11 pm

And you and Hoss, Jester. I'm sure you'll enjoy the conversation just as much as the meal.

BTS · Post by **BTS** » Thu Nov 27, 2008 1:18 pm

oscar;1069322 wrote: I think Britain should have a thanksgiving day. Thanks for having Gordon Brown as the Prime Minister. :yh_rotfl

It seems not all Brits agree with your love of Brown.

Support for Gordon Brown plummets over economic rescue

Post by **spot** » Thu Nov 27, 2008 2:16 pm

Jester;1070455 wrote: Yeah if he ever gets here! The boy went for a hunt yesterday.

How long a start was he allowed? How many are chasing him?

wildhorses · Post by **wildhorses** » Fri Nov 28, 2008 1:38 am

Jester;1070753 wrote: Well dare I ramble? We'll see if i can and not get too presonal.

My wife and two youngest childen are gone back home right now, Hoss stayed to keep care of the biz and he did another magnificent job under some tuff circumstances I gave him considering the political outcome of recent times. I came back home earlier than planned and had no intention of any plans for thanksgiving, Hoss tried to lay up for himself an invite to his girls family but it just didnt work out. his contiingency plan was to go hunting through the thankgiving weekend, but then I showed up so he changed his plans to return early, only hunting one morning.

So I cooked a turkey, taters, corn and made buscuits and planned just a meal together. When he got home and got settled we knelt down and had our prayer time and declared what we were thankful for offering our praise to the great sustainer God for all we have been givin. We were about to eat when my son looked up at me and said 'ya know dad, I thought this was going to stink as a thanksgiving, but yer here!'

I dont know about you, but my typical thanksgiving is loaded with noise, people I love surrounding the table, food being passed to and fro and a whole lot of thank you's. I spent a few thanksgivings looking across a small patch of dirt at one of my army buds eating an MRE and wishing I was home. It dawned on me then that, my children spent them without me as well.

I am very thankful for a son who is a son like my son is.

We commenced to eatign and the phone rang, on the other end was a church buddy of mine? He said 'Hey bud you are home!', Come on over we will hold dinner for you. I said 'give us ten to wrap up and see you in 15'.

So I wrapped the smoked turkey in foil, grabbed the taters, and off we went, and in moments we were surroudned by loving family, good friends a table full of the great bounty in the Lord and all kinds of welcome and thank you's.

Folks, that is what Thanksgiving is all about.

Amen.

Thanksgiving is all about pulling up a chair and sharing a meal together.

shelbell · Post by **shelbell** » Fri Nov 28, 2008 1:53 am

Jester;1070753 wrote: Well dare I ramble? We'll see if i can and not get too presonal.

My wife and two youngest childen are gone back home right now, Hoss stayed to keep care of the biz and he did another magnificent job under some tuff circumstances I gave him considering the political outcome of recent times. I came back home earlier than planned and had no intention of any plans for thanksgiving, Hoss tried to lay up for himself an invite to his girls family but it just didnt work out. his contiingency plan was to go hunting through the thankgiving weekend, but then I showed up so he changed his plans to return early, only hunting one morning.

So I cooked a turkey, taters, corn and made buscuits and planned just a meal together. When he got home and got settled we knelt down and had our prayer time and declared what we were thankful for offering our praise to the great sustainer God for all we have been givin. We were about to eat when my son looked up at me and said 'ya know dad, I thought this was going to stink as a thanksgiving, but yer here!'

I dont know about you, but my typical thanksgiving is loaded with noise, people I love surrounding the table, food being passed to and fro and a whole lot of thank you's. I spent a few thanksgivings looking across a small patch of dirt at one of my army buds eating an MRE and wishing I was home. It dawned on me then that, my children spent them without me as well.

I am very thankful for a son who is a son like my son is.

We commenced to eatign and the phone rang, on the other end was a church buddy of mine? He said 'Hey bud you are home!', Come on over we will hold dinner for you. I said 'give us ten to wrap up and see you in 15'.

So I wrapped the smoked turkey in foil, grabbed the taters, and off we went, and in moments we were surroudned by loving family, good friends a table full of the great bounty in the Lord and all kinds of welcome and thank you's.

Folks, that is what Thanksgiving is all about.

What a wonderful story Jester. I'm so glad it worked out for you and Hoss. :-6

shelbell · Post by **shelbell** » Fri Nov 28, 2008 2:20 am

Jester;1070825 wrote: What gives with everyone up so late in the evening? Is it indigestion?:yh_rotfl

Nah, insomniac here. :wah:

shelbell · Post by **shelbell** » Fri Nov 28, 2008 2:41 am

Jester;1070843 wrote: Me too, I was never a good boy at naptime... :yh_rotfl

I've always loved a good nap, I just hate going to bed at night. :yh_rotfl

Post by **Bryn Mawr** » Fri Nov 28, 2008 12:18 pm

Jester;1070753 wrote: Well dare I ramble? We'll see if i can and not get too presonal.

My wife and two youngest childen are gone back home right now, Hoss stayed to keep care of the biz and he did another magnificent job under some tuff circumstances I gave him considering the political outcome of recent times. I came back home earlier than planned and had no intention of any plans for thanksgiving, Hoss tried to lay up for himself an invite to his girls family but it just didnt work out. his contiingency plan was to go hunting through the thankgiving weekend, but then I showed up so he changed his plans to return early, only hunting one morning.

So I cooked a turkey, taters, corn and made buscuits and planned just a meal together. When he got home and got settled we knelt down and had our prayer time and declared what we were thankful for offering our praise to the great sustainer God for all we have been givin. We were about to eat when my son looked up at me and said 'ya know dad, I thought this was going to stink as a thanksgiving, but yer here!'

I dont know about you, but my typical thanksgiving is loaded with noise, people I love surrounding the table, food being passed to and fro and a whole lot of thank you's. I spent a few thanksgivings looking across a small patch of dirt at one of my army buds eating an MRE and wishing I was home. It dawned on me then that, my children spent them without me as well.

I am very thankful for a son who is a son like my son is.

We commenced to eatign and the phone rang, on the other end was a church buddy of mine? He said 'Hey bud you are home!', Come on over we will hold dinner for you. I said 'give us ten to wrap up and see you in 15'.

So I wrapped the smoked turkey in foil, grabbed the taters, and off we went, and in moments we were surroudned by loving family, good friends a table full of the great bounty in the Lord and all kinds of welcome and thank you's.

Folks, that is what Thanksgiving is all about.

And a very special time is sound too.

May there be many more like it for you and yours :-6

chonsigirl · Post by **chonsigirl** » Fri Nov 28, 2008 2:24 pm

What a great story, that is what Thanksgiving really is. :-4