Giving Thanks

Thanksgiving means giving thanks. The question remains: how do we give thanks? ?There are countless ways I suppose. Verbally: in person, over the phone, to an audience, to family and friends, and even person to person is welcome. Then it can be done physically: sending a card or a letter, posting words via the multitude of media options: radio, TV, newspaper, journals, texting, email, web page, a pat on the back, a tender smooch, a gift, social medium and so on. If we run out of ideas, we can deliver or send a gift, flowers, candy, or . . .

Thanksgiving was first celebrated in the U.S. in 1621 after the first harvest in the New World, a three-day feast with both Pilgrims and Native Americans in attendance. It was celebrated off and on until 1789 and made an official Federal Holiday in 1863 as both George Washington and Abraham Lincoln gave it status. Lincoln set the tone "Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens" and was instituted on the last Thursday in November officially and ever since.

Over the years Thanksgiving had a religious meaning to give praise to God and thanks for harvests that would be beneficial for the winter months as well as feasting. Today Thanksgiving has both religious and secular meanings with its four-day holiday as well as the beginning of the Christmas season (which now is actually closer to Halloween) and has lost some of its original thrust of giving thanks.

Thanksgiving Day once a year in November remains a welcome reminder. Thanksgiving traditions go way back and spread widely. Thanksgiving Day in Canada is our de l'action de grâce and is celebrated officially on the second Monday of October since 1957 or on any day of that week. How many international Thanksgiving Days are you acquainted with?

So why do we need reminders to give thanks? I suppose like other things it is too easily forgotten. Songs have been written but probably sung primarily in churches. Traditional meals use baked or roasted turkey as the early Pilgrims did with its stuffing, mashed potatoes and gravy and/or sweet potatoes, cranberries, autumn vegetables and pumpkin pie. A good reminder of giving thanks for bountiful harvest, victories in war and civil liberty, and for "useful knowledge," and for God's "kind care" and "His Providence," among countless others reasons.

The beauty of Thanksgiving is that we can add our own thanks in thought, word and deed. Why not do so this season with so many blessings mingled with activities that arouse our memories.