 At age ten, it was at this point that I really began to realize the meaning of this holiday and wanted to be a better person. If one can take anything from this peaceful holiday, I would hope it would be the act of kindness and sharing with others whether you know them or not. If you can't do it more often then less, on this one day, choose it and go to town on the giving aspect. That also includes biting one's tongue when a family member or friend may be a bit off in a comment and move on from it. Go look for some more dessert and grab a glass of vino. I began allowing drivers to pass in front of me more frequently as I said to myself, 'we all get there so what's the difference unless it is an emergency?" And at the grocery store parking lot, I didn't see any reason for one, unless they ran out of milk well then yes, that would qualify for mass hysteria in driving techniques and rudeness.
Thanksgiving, or also called Thanksgiving Day, is a traditional North American holiday giving thanks to God at the harvest season. Canada celebrates Thanksgiving on the second Monday in October, and the United States celebrates the holiday on the fourth Thursday of November. I never knew that and until I researched for this article I learned something new. I believe we will always learn as we go in our life path and never stop.
History of Thanksgiving in Canada
For Canada, the Canadian Thanksgiving correlates to the European harvest festival, when which churches are decorated with cornucopias, pumpkins, corn, wheat sheaves and other harvest bounty. Hymns are customarily sung on the Sunday of Thanksgiving weekend. Scriptural lections derived from biblical stories relating to the Jewish harvest festival of Sukkot. Very interesting and very neat indeed!
The history of Thanksgiving in Canada goes back to an English explorer, Martin Frobisher, who had been attempting to find a northern passage to the Orient. He did, however, establish a settlement in Canada. In 1578, Frobisher held a formal ceremony in what is now the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, to give thanks for surviving the long journey.
The National Thanksgiving Proclamations
The Continental Congress issued the first official Thanksgiving Proclamation made by the American colonies who rebelled against the Crown of England in 1777. Six national Proclamations of Thanksgiving were issued in the first thirty years after the founding of the United States of America as an independent federation of States. After 1815, there were no more Thanksgiving Proclamations until President Lincoln, who had made two during the Civil War. He said that Thanksgiving should be a Federal holiday and kept as a "prayerful day of Thanksgiving."
In the United States Thanksgiving is a four-day weekend, which usually marks vacation for schools. As a mother of four, it is a blessing and a curse all at the same time. Actually, I love when there home as I am a glutton for punishment in the chaotic arena. It is when they go to school that I miss them terribly and reflect waiting anxiously for their safe return home. My secret for survival as I am this type of parent...lots of wine and hair dye. I imagine the therapy will be sure to follow. Thanksgiving meals are traditionally family events where certain kinds of food are served. First and foremost, turkey is the featured item in most Thanksgiving feasts (so much so that Thanksgiving is sometimes called "Turkey Day"). Stuffing, mashed potatoes with gravy, sweet potatoes, cranberry sauce, corn, turnips, yams and pumpkin pie are commonly associated with Thanksgiving dinner as my husband's mouth drools over this sentence. I wish everyone a safe, peaceful, bountiful, spiritual, fun, non-stressful and memorable holiday.
Always be well-Alexandra Holzer
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