Opinion: Are We Getting Less Thankful?
By Katie McEldowney
This time of year is always filled with Christmas cheer. Many begin decorating their houses for Christmas, sometimes a month or two in advance after Halloween ends. After that, everyone celebrates with enthusiasm for the new year and new opportunities, anticipating that fateful night.
But what about Thanksgiving? Though we celebrate it and it is just as significant as any other holiday, why doesn’t the holiday get as much credit in Pop Culture?
Thanksgiving has been celebrated as far back as 1621. It’s a day to sit down, remember why we are thankful, and to enjoy the company of loved ones and friends. What has Thanksgiving amounted to in 2019? There are stacks on stacks of Christmas movies that are extremely popular in the U.S. and around the world, such as the ones seen below:
The Christmas Story; November 18, 1983
This movie is a Christmas tradition when Ralphy struggles to get what he wants for Christmas as well as face family and bullies; all in a hilarious break down of events seen around the world.
Christmas Vacation; December 1, 1989
This movie has been a classic for years. The Griswolds are attempting to have a big family Christmas, but little do they know of all the funny disasters they are going to face. Many families watch it as a Christmas tradition.
Home Alone; November 16 1990
Do I even have to explain this one? Home Alone is a beloved Christmas movie when compared to so many more associated with Christmas. You have caroling, snow, The Nutcracker, nativity scenes, Christmas songs-- the list goes on. Yet Thanksgiving, as far as I’m aware, has one Thanksgiving Special:
A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving; November 20, 1973
Another Holiday classic, Charlie brown teaches an amazing lesson about friendship, being thankful, and making the toughest situation work, but why isn’t Thanksgiving more of an influence in Pop Culture? Why isn’t it as significant as Christmas, Halloween, or New Years? Have the generations just progressively gotten less and less thankful?
Think about it. Thanksgiving is a day to spend time with your family, enjoy each others’ company, and to express how thankful you are to have each other. Then, merely a day after, Black Friday begins, people act selfish while trying to get the things they want before someone else— all because gifts are what everything is all about, right?
Thanksgiving has gone so far downhill that, instead of spending the entire day telling people why you are thankful for them, when 6’oclock rolls around, you’re worried about yourself again.
Thanksgiving was founded to celebrate what we have. To remember everything we’ve been given so to ensure we don’t grow wasteful or forget about all the good people in our lives. Society seems to throw that idea aside. We need to bring Thanksgiving back, to rekindle the flame of being thankful of family and friendship. Thanksgiving is supposed to remind us to keep our humanity, to keep our hearts open to the ones we love— it reminds us not to be selfish, and that has gone down the drain.
Remember to show people (whether they be friends, family, or teachers) who have influenced you in your life that you are thankful. Write them a note. Give them something you know they’ll love like a bag of candy or a poster—maybe their favorite CD. Draw them a picture, if that’s where your talents lie. Write them a poem, or just spend the day with them to remind them they are important in your life.
Let’s bring Thanksgiving back into Pop Culture and remember what it means!