Sunday, November 23, 2008

Thanksgiving A 2008 Perspective

Thanksgiving: A little History.
Thanksgiving is a traditional North American holiday. There is some contention as to when the first thanksgiving took place. However the earliest attested Thanksgiving was celebrated on September 8th, 1565 in what is now Saint Augustine, Florida. Though the first offical Thanksgiving occurred at the Plymouth Plantation in 1621. Today, Thanksgiving is celebrated in the United States on the fourth Thursday of November. However in Canada, yes they celebrate Thanksgiving in Canada, it is held on the second Monday in October.
Thanksgiving: From My Perspective
Coming from a family where the parents divorced when I was three. Thanksgiving to me means two meals. From the time that I was little I’ve had to eat two Thanksgiving dinners. Both sides wanted to celebrate this holiday with my sister and me, so we always had to have double of everything. Then when I was older and started dating, I would spend one with my dad and one with my boyfriend’s family. This has been the tradition ever since and will probably continue until the time comes for me to have my own Thanksgiving dinner.
This year is a little different though. My sister, whom has a family of her own now complete with two kids and a husband, is having Thanksgiving at her place. My husband and I will stop by and visit but we will not be eating with them. Afterwards we will continue on to my in-laws and have the meal with them.
Oh and I’ve forgotten the biggest thing about Thanksgiving. It’s all about the food. The slow cooked turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes and all those traditional dishes that have been passed down from one generation to the next, that you only get on this one day of the year. My personal favorite is candied yams, my grandmother on my mom’s side always made them and now my mother-in-law has carried on the tradition for me.


In the end it is seeing all the family you don’t get to see all the time that makes the day so special for the majority of people who celebrate this holiday.

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