Thanksgiving: Exiled from the holiday season

When I was about four years old, I learned that Christmas was actually a two month holiday which started on the first day of November — or at least that is what all of the stores and malls that I visited made me believe.

It seems as if the jack-o-lanterns and ghosts on candy bags turn into Christmas trees and Santa Claus almost magically overnight. Stores trade “Scary Good Deals” for “Christmas Sales.” Pumpkin spice transforms into peppermint. And I cannot begin to understand why.

It is November, and all I think about is delicious Thanksgiving food, but stores are making it feel like Thanksgiving is not even relevant anymore. I have to mentally prepare myself before grocery shopping because I know I will be assaulted by the Christmas carols, Christmas decorations, Christmas smells and Christmas everything. While I understand that businesses want to get as much money as possible out of the holiday season, it seems that they have exiled Thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving is being pushed away from the holiday season because it is not as profitable as Christmas. No one is going out to buy hundreds of dollars in presents, tree decorations, or stocking stuffers for Thanksgiving. Instead a slightly larger than usual grocery trip is the only difference from any other week's’ expenses. Because of this lack of profitability, Thanksgiving has become more like an annual family event than a highly anticipated and exciting holiday. A perfect example of this is the sheer fact that we are constantly reminded about Black Friday sales but not very much is heard about the holiday that takes place twelve hours prior.

While Christmas is a great holiday and a very joyful time, each holiday should be given its credit when due. Many forget the time that is spent with family on Thanksgiving Day and all of the food, stories, and moments that are both created and shared.

Thanksgiving, like Christmas, is a great holiday to share with loved ones, and it should not be forgotten. Instead of listening to the thousands of renditions of “Carol of the Bells,” “Jingle Bells” and “Deck the Halls” in November, maybe we can hold off until December, and give Thanksgiving a chance. After all, a one-month Christmas can be just as joyful and merry as two months worth of Christmas cheer.

So as you are putting up your tree, hanging up stockings and taking out that peppermint candle that you bought months ago specifically for Christmastime, remember, Thanksgiving is right around the corner.