Thanksgiving is just around the corner and with it comes the excitement of family gatherings, delicious food, and-most importantly for students-a well-deserved break from school. Thanksgiving, celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November, traces its roots back to a harvest festival celebrated in 1621. This year it also happens to land on my birthday! The Pilgrims, who had arrived in Plymouth the previous year, shared a feast with the Wampanoag people to celebrate their first successful harvest. This event has become known as the “first Thanksgiving,” even though it bore little resemblance to the modern holiday. Years later Thanksgiving would take shape and, in 1863, was cemented as a national holiday when President Abraham Lincoln made it a “day of Thanksgiving and Praise.”
Speaking of Thanksgiving, one good thing about it is the fact that there is a break for students. It feels like a mini vacation in the middle of the busy school year. One gets to unwind, sleep better, and, sometimes, binge watch or play video games. For many it is also the time to spend with those family members they do not often get to see or just simply enjoy a slower pace for a few days. Teachers sometimes try to wrap up lessons or tests before the break, so it’s often a time when schoolwork lightens up a bit unless you’re assigned a project to work on during the holiday. Thanksgiving break is a relief for students, teachers, and parents alike. The school is closed for a few days, families go on trips or simply stay at home and enjoy activities like watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, playing backyard football, or preparing a feast together. And, of course, there is Black Friday shopping when people wake up super early or in some cases don’t sleep at all-to get good deals on holiday gifts.
While Thanksgiving is one time to give thanks, reflect on the good things in our lives, it’s also important to remember its complicated history. The relationship between the Pilgrims and Native Americans wasn’t always peaceful. And the holidays origins can bring mixed feelings. Still, today it’s become a time for unity and gratitude. Whether one is traveling, staying local, or just enjoying the break, Thanksgiving is a much-needed break from the hustle and bustle of school and life. So enjoy the turkey, the pie, and the time off thanks giving break only comes once a year!
