Wednesday, November 26, 2014

Two Sides of Thanksgiving

This Day in History: November 26, 1941

Thursday is Thanksgiving Day! Did you know there are two sides to this holiday? One is celebration with a holiday feast often referred to as Turkey Day. The other is a celebration of gratitude known as thankfulness.

Two Sides of Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving Day: A Holiday Feast

A cornucopia of fruits, nuts, and veggies

Turkey, trimmings, cakes, and pies
More than anyone could possibly ask
Instead of a treat, becomes our demise

***

Family and friends prepare favorite recipes

Bringing various homemade dishes to explore
Gluttons for punishment, a natural instinct
Lead us back for more and more
***

Thirst quenched and bellies stuffed to the gills

Rocking chair conversation not too deep
Is it the rocking motion or the turkey
That finally puts us all to sleep?

Thanksgiving: A Celebration of Gratitude

A cornucopia of thoughtfulness and gratitude,

Thanks from the heart, as well as the lips,

More blessings than anyone could ask
Comes with all the trimmings this day equips
***

Family and friends unite in fellowship

Granting praise for all the gifts of the year

A candle is lit and with prayerful hands

The true meaning of Thanksgiving is clear

***

This day forward may the message remain
Resolute during daily meetings
Thoughtfulness begets thankfulness
Within smiles of holiday greetings

History books are filled with accounts of the first Thanksgiving at Plymouth, Massachusetts. Within that history are some of the coolest nuggets of trivia surrounding this day that nudge at the heart and tickle the funny bone. For example, turkey may NOT have been the main meat that filled the Pilgrim's bellies at that first feast. Yet today very few tables will be void of Mr. Tom Turkey and all the trimmings. In fact, if it had been left up to Benjamin Franklin, the Turkey, not the Bald Eagle, would have been designated as our national bird.

As for the establishment of the modern holiday, we can thank President Franklin Roosevelt. On November 26, 1941, President Roosevelt signed the bill officially establishing the fourth Thursday in November as Thanksgiving Day. Of course, Thanksgiving had already been celebrated since the 17th century but not without deviation and considerable controversy. Roosevelt admitted his mistake returning the holiday to November's fourth Thursday.