Thanksgiving, the forgotten holiday

[eyoungren]

In my house, I refuse to set up the Christmas tree until AFTER everyone is as round as roly polys from dinner. I don't put up Christmas lights and decorations until Friday after Thanksgiving.

This is what my wife and I were taught.

Tree and lights do not go up until the day after.
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And yet this does not mean thanksgiving is being forgotten. It may not be acknowledged or used by retailers but that does not diminish it as a holiday which is what you're proposing.

I have to disagree. Retailers push the boundaries because they sense that the consumer is either okay with that or won't register an objection. Thus the Christmas season starts in November because no one objects to it. Or those that object are small in number.

If enough people objected then retailers would start including Thanksgiving more. But obviously that isn't happening. Hence either not enough people care or the minority just doesn't care enough.

So, Thanksgiving gets forgotten except one week prior to the day and the day itself. While Christmas gets an entire month and a half for everyone to remember. No one can forget because the retailers are pushing it.

 

[maflynn]

I have to disagree. Retailers push the boundaries because they sense that the consumer is either okay with that or won't register an objection. Thus the Christmas season starts in November because no one objects to it. Or those that object are small in number.

What does that have to do with Thanksgiving being forgotten as a holiday? Will a family forget or choose not to have a Thanksgiving dinner because they didn't see best buy, walmart, or amazon run a thanksgiving day sale?

If enough people objected then retailers would start including Thanksgiving more.

What would they buy? Thanksgiving isn't about exchanging gifts, or increasing one's material possesion, quite the opposite, being thankful for what you have have and spending time together - at least for my family.

Tree and lights do not go up until the day after.

By the way my tree went up November 1st and yet, we are still looking forward to Thanksgiving.

 

[Mac'nCheese]

Don't blame the stores, blame the customers. Believe me, NO store would open on Thanksgiving if no customers wanted to shop.



"Dragging" customers away? "Making" employees come in?

I worked in food service many years ago. We nearly fought each other for the right to work on holidays on Thanksgiving and Christmas. The store paid us double time, and none of us were around family anyway since we were away at college. Nobody was "made" to do anything, and nobody is twisting customers' arms to buy stuff.

You and your family like to sit around and watch football or whatever instead of going shopping. That's great. But don't "make" other customers stay home and do the same thing because it's what YOU would do. Don't "drag" employees back to the house when they want to go to work and make some extra cash just because that's where YOUR heart is.

Years ago, before I got married and had kids and ruined my life and all that, I would always work doubles on xmas, xmas eve, thanks, and BF. I would even come in on my scheduled day off and make triple time, free food all day and a free day off in the bank!

 

[eyoungren]

What does that have to do with Thanksgiving being forgotten as a holiday? Will a family forget or choose not to have a Thanksgiving dinner because they didn't see best buy, walmart, or amazon run a thanksgiving day sale?


What would they buy? Thanksgiving isn't about exchanging gifts, or increasing one's material possesion, quite the opposite, being thankful for what you have have and spending time together - at least for my family.



By the way my tree went up November 1st and yet, we are still looking forward to Thanksgiving.

Well…conversely…will a family forget Christmas unless they are bombarded by Christmas commercials? Or are they more disposed to be irritated by the fact it starts so early?

And you're right, Thanksgiving isn't about gifts or things. And that's why it's been so hard to commercialize. To the point that retailers just forget about it until the week it happens - because all they can really incentivize you to buy is food.

I don't believe everyone has forgotten Thanksgiving, and sure not having it be commercialized doesn't mean it is forgotten.

But your example of putting up a tree on November 1, 20+ days before Thanksgiving is the kind of thing I'm meaning.

Why do you put up a tree before Thanksgiving? I can't be inside your head, but the only reason I can think of is that you are thinking about the Christmas season and Christmas. You haven't forgotten Thanksgiving, but is it then just a holiday that occurs during the Christmas season?

You look forward to Thanksgiving you say, but what does a Christmas tree have to do with Thanksgiving?

When I was growing up, the only stuff out on November 1st was Thanksgiving stuff. Because that was the next holiday. Not Christmas.

Finally, I must make clear, I am not arguing and I am not pushing any agenda on you and I am not saying in any way that you are wrong. I'm just asking questions.

 

[jagolden]

Agree completely with the OP and many of the other post.

My take:
Halloween and Christmas = money
Thanksgiving = questionable political correctness (and no money)

 

[Mac'nCheese]

Agree completely with the OP and many of the other post.

My take:
Halloween and Christmas = money
Thanksgiving = questionable political correctness (and no money)

You bring up a good point. Will our kids care about thanksgiving since its a day celebrating the murder and rape of native americans and the stealing of their land?

 

[jagolden]

You bring up a good point. Will our kids care about thanksgiving since its a day celebrating the murder and rape of native americans and the stealing of their land?

Personally I think there’s room for both.
Thanksgiving that people were able to escape their own persecution and the overall good country that came with that.
But, also a great learning opportunity of what transpired from that founding.

As a kid it was just a day of great food and two days off from school. Age, education, and wisdom have changed that dramatically.

 

[Mac'nCheese]

Personally I think there’s room for both.
Thanksgiving that people were able to escape their own persecution and the overall good country that came with that.
But, also a great learning opportunity of what transpired from that founding.

As a kid it was just a day of great food and two days off from school. Age, education, and wisdom have changed that dramatically.

True, I also might have mistaken the hate for Columbus day with Thanksgiving.

 

[TonyC28]

I've noticed this. I'm not sure Thanksgiving is forgotten, though. People just seem to be starting their Christmas season earlier and earlier. For example, 93.9, a Chicago radio station that is known in the area for switching to all Christmas music for the season, made the switch on November 8th this year. In 2014 they made the switch on November 13. In 2008 it started on November 21st. The stores seem to make the switch as soon as Halloween is over. Some people in my neighborhood already have Christmas lights up. Thanksgiving may be getting a little overlooked these days but it certainly isn't forgotten. Personally, I've always thought of the Christmas/Holiday Season as Thanksgiving through New Years Day, but that's just me. As far as the commercial aspects of it, businesses wouldn't do it if it wasn't what people wanted.

 

[ThisBougieLife]

I'm glad that Thanksgiving is "forgotten". By that I mean that it's a holiday celebrated in one's home with one's family (and most people I know do celebrate it), not with the commercial silliness of other holidays. I'm glad that, apart from food sales, it's not a money-maker. That's better for everyone.

Bobby Hill: John Redcorn, do your people celebrate Thanksgiving?
John Redcorn: We did. Once.

 

[eyoungren]

I've noticed this. I'm not sure Thanksgiving is forgotten, though. People just seem to be starting their Christmas season earlier and earlier. For example, 93.9, a Chicago radio station that is known in the area for switching to all Christmas music for the season, made the switch on November 8th this year. In 2014 they made the switch on November 13. In 2008 it started on November 21st. The stores seem to make the switch as soon as Halloween is over. Some people in my neighborhood already have Christmas lights up. Thanksgiving may be getting a little overlooked these days but it certainly isn't forgotten. Personally, I've always thought of the Christmas/Holiday Season as Thanksgiving through New Years Day, but that's just me. As far as the commercial aspects of it, businesses wouldn't do it if it wasn't what people wanted.

I think that may be a better word, 'overlooked'. Overlooking something can be intentional or unintentional. In the case of commercialism, then Thanksgiving is being intentionally overlooked - except the week before when the retailers can get something out of it.

 

[TonyC28]

I think that may be a better word, 'overlooked'. Overlooking something can be intentional or unintentional. In the case of commercialism, then Thanksgiving is being intentionally overlooked - except the week before when the retailers can get something out of it.

As businesses I kind of expect them to do what's most profitable. There is just a much bigger market for Christmas decorations than there is for Thanksgiving decorations.

 

[Apple fanboy]

Christmas music at any time of year is a good reason to stop listening to the radio and start listening to my playlists.

 

[TonyC28]

Christmas music at any time of year is a good reason to stop listening to the radio and start listening to my playlists.

You mean you don't like hearing the same five songs over and over sung by various artists????? Grinch!

 

[Apple fanboy]

You mean you don't like hearing the same five songs over and over sung by various artists????? Grinch!

Christmas songs and adverts drive me up the wall! I do genuinely hate this time of year.

 

[LizKat]

It used to be when I was a kid that Thanksgiving was celebrated after Halloween and you didn't put up a Christmas tree or put out Christmas stuff until the day after Thanksgiving.

Yep. I still like it for being the least commercial seeming of all the holidays in the USA.

Love the cooking and the potluck contributions to the table, and the fact that it's not like the formal winter holidays so we're not also having to worry simultaneously about did we get presents for everyone plus a few generics for drop-ins and are they wrapped and did the kids get into them (or into the sweets set aside for table)... It's more laid back and stress free than any other family gathering for us, except maybe a pickup summer picnic that almost passes for a family reunion on a sunny weekend. And the great thing is we get to pull this off to brighten up what for me is otherwise the most dreary month of the year.

I know there are well warranted negative political connotations to Thanksgiving in the USA. I prefer not to assign them in my family to a celebration that was meant to be a harvest festival. I suppose that's an example of compartmentalizing my politics. So be it, at the end of my Novembers. To atone for that selfishness I donate the cost of whatever I'm contributing to our dinner in funds for a dinner for the homeless at a local church. It's the best I can do... I'm not letting go of that holiday peg in November.

 

[Tomorrow]

Well…conversely…will a family forget Christmas unless they are bombarded by Christmas commercials? Or are they more disposed to be irritated by the fact it starts so early?

I think you have to be a genuinely cold-hearted person to be irritated by Christmas.
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Why do you put up a tree before Thanksgiving? I can't be inside your head, but the only reason I can think of is that you are thinking about the Christmas season and Christmas. You haven't forgotten Thanksgiving, but is it then just a holiday that occurs during the Christmas season?

You look forward to Thanksgiving you say, but what does a Christmas tree have to do with Thanksgiving?

Why must the two be mutually exclusive?

My birthday is near Valentine's Day. Am I not allowed to celebrate both? Must I put away all the Valentines before I can blow out my candles?

My wife's birthday is near Mothers Day. Is it wrong for her to open a birthday gift on the years her birthday falls on that particular Sunday?

Just because someone has a Christmas tree up doesn't mean they're ignoring Thanksgiving. You know, some people even have more than one child, and still manage to pay attention to all of them!

 

[maflynn]

But your example of putting up a tree on November 1, 20+ days before Thanksgiving is the kind of thing I'm meaning.

What meaning is that? I cannot enjoy Thanksgiving and Christmas?

Why do you put up a tree before Thanksgiving? I can't be inside your head, but the only reason I can think of is that you are thinking about the Christmas season and Christmas. You haven't forgotten Thanksgiving, but is it then just a holiday that occurs during the Christmas season?

Because I really enjoy the Christmas season? You don't need to get into my head, I really enjoy Christmas, oh and I also like thanksgiving.

You look forward to Thanksgiving you say, but what does a Christmas tree have to do with Thanksgiving?

It doesn't, obviously

When I was growing up, the only stuff out on November 1st was Thanksgiving stuff. Because that was the next holiday. Not Christmas.

Yes, many people around my neighborhood have thanksgiving themed stuff, including those blow up turkeys in the front lawn. Nothing wrong with that. I also see a number of houses that have their Christmas lights out as well. Nothing wrong with that either. I think those folks understand that you can celebrate Thanksgiving and be excited for Christmas.

Why complain about something and just enjoy thanksgiving, I'm very thankful for the blessings that I have this year and I look forward to spending time with my close and extended family. I'm also very excited about Christmas.

 

[eyoungren]

I think you have to be a genuinely cold-hearted person to be irritated by Christmas.
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Why must the two be mutually exclusive?

My birthday is near Valentine's Day. Am I not allowed to celebrate both? Must I put away all the Valentines before I can blow out my candles?

My wife's birthday is near Mothers Day. Is it wrong for her to open a birthday gift on the years her birthday falls on that particular Sunday?

Just because someone has a Christmas tree up doesn't mean they're ignoring Thanksgiving. You know, some people even have more than one child, and still manage to pay attention to all of them!

I don't hate Christmas, just to be clear. I do hate the commercialization of it.

Birthdays are not holidays, but I take your meaning. My wife's birthday is in the middle of December. Her family always combined her birthday with Christmas, thus making her birthday nothing special when she was growing up. It got celebrated on Christmas and any gifts she got were treated as birthday/Christmas gifts.

Maybe it's me. I just like to celebrate one thing at a time. Yet again, I'm in a minority it seems. In any case, my wife gets birthday presents now and Christmas presents. Her birthday is celebrated before Christmas and has been since we got married.

I don't begrudge anyone their choices of how to celebrate the holidays. But combining them and celebrating one of them out of sequence isn't any kind of a thing for us. Everyone is different. But I posted my original question because it seemed (to me) as if Thanksgiving wasn't a holiday too many people were interested in any more.

I have since been shown I was wrong.

 

[Momof2.1107]

In my household we don’t start decorating for Christmas until the day after Thanksgiving. We don’t do anything relating to Christmas until Thanksgiving is over. The only exception is I start Christmas shopping for my kids early but don’t start wrapping presents until a few days before Christmas. I work at a fitness facility (gym) and we are open 364 days a year without holiday pay for any holiday. It’s up to us to request time off. I usually work Thanksgiving morning for few extra hours since I don’t cook Thanksgiving dinner.

 

[eyoungren]

What meaning is that? I cannot enjoy Thanksgiving and Christmas?

Meaning, celebrating Christmas before Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving is a bump in the road on the way to Christmas. Otherwise why put out Christmas trees and other Christmas items before Thanksgiving is over?

Now if that's you (and you seem to be saying it is) then that's your business and I've got no right to tell you otherwise. And I do not mean to say you can't simply because it's not what I do. It's just odd to me to celebrate two holidays simultaneously, when one is scheduled to occur after the other.

Because I really enjoy the Christmas season? You don't need to get into my head, I really enjoy Christmas, oh and I also like thanksgiving.

I am starting to get that idea.

My wife and I visited a Christmas in July shop once. That's another thing I don't get and so we were there because we wanted to understand. I guess we just see the Christmas season as starting after Thanksgiving and not before. But again, I'm not here to tell anyone that I'm right and they are wrong. I'm just discussing things.

It doesn't, obviously

Right. So, why on Thanksgiving do you have a Christmas tree up?

Because you like Christmas and choose to start the season at November 1 and not after Thanksgiving. Okay, I get that. No issues.

Yes, many people around my neighborhood have thanksgiving themed stuff, including those blow up turkeys in the front lawn. Nothing wrong with that. I also see a number of houses that have their Christmas lights out as well. Nothing wrong with that either. I think those folks understand that you can celebrate Thanksgiving and be excited for Christmas.

Why complain about something and just enjoy thanksgiving, I'm very thankful for the blessings that I have this year and I look forward to spending time with my close and extended family. I'm also very excited about Christmas.

Maybe that is the difference? I'm far more excited about Thanksgiving than I ever was/am about Christmas.

Christmas has meant various things for my wife and I over the years and the balance of it has been more negative than positive. On Thanksgiving no one is worrying about the finances to provide appropriate gifts or the embarrassment of having to explain why you couldn't afford "X" or why you simply have nothing to give at all. You're there to share a meal and the company of others on Thanksgiving.

My wife and I shared a chicken dinner at Thanksgiving once. We couldn't afford a turkey that year. It was still nice because we were sharing that moment together.

 

[0388631]

So easily forgotten that I forgot it was next week.

Retail doesn’t make money on Thanksgiving. Grocery stores do but not the big boxes. This is the reason they sell Halloween and Christmas items in August.

That is such BS. It started in June for us. Okay, pal? Get your damn facts straight.

 

[Mac'nCheese]

Let's be clear though: the stations that play Christmas music are really playing all winter holiday music. After hours and hours of xmas songs, they play Adam Sandler's Hanukkah song (both versions), and then go back to xmas.

 

[Apple fanboy]

We don’t decorate at all for Christmas. We don’t celebrate it at all. Not everyone does for a variety of reasons.
Role on January!

 

[maflynn]

Meaning, celebrating Christmas before Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving is a bump in the road on the way to Christmas. Otherwise why put out Christmas trees and other Christmas items before Thanksgiving is over?

We started planning Thanksgiving before Halloween, does that mean Halloween was just a bump in the road to Thanksgiving?

Right. So, why on Thanksgiving do you have a Christmas tree up?

Uhmm, because I wanted too

Maybe that is the difference? I'm far more excited about Thanksgiving than I ever was/am about Christmas.

That's great, I think being thankful of the blessings that God provided is an awesome attitude. I too am incredibly thankful for the blessings, and even with the challenges I faced in 2018, I was blessed. I look forward to expressing that outwardly with my family and spending time with my family, but yet that doesn't mean I have to wait to be excited for Christmas. I think you're missing the point. I can enjoy thanksgiving, while preparing and being excited for Christmas.

Instead of complaining which seems to be a lot of negativity, why not be thankful that we have the freedom and ability to celebrate the way we want too. No one is preventing you celebrating Thanksgiving and Christmas the way you want too, why are you complaining the way others are celebrating those holidays?
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Let's be clear though: the stations that play Christmas music are really playing all winter holiday music. After hours and hours of xmas songs, they play Adam Sandler's Hanukkah song (both versions), and then go back to xmas.

Also, lets keep things in perspective, if you don't like the Christmas music, just change the station. On broadcast stations (At least in the Boston area), there may be a single radio station that plays Christmas music. On XM/Sirius its something like 3 stations out of hundreds. Complaining about Christmas music on the radio is a straw man, in that they're playing a style of music that some people want. Its like complaining about classical music being on the radio preventing people from listening to classic rock.