Cooking, cooking and more, well....cooking.
Thanksgiving has always interested me, its a strange holiday....
(And before anyone goes all red, white and blue, and screams some nonsense about this post becoming, "un-american" - don't.)
A holiday that sprang from a plentiful harvest and attempt to make nice with the locals; to regional declarations of 'when Thanksgiving' would be held; to one woman's campaign to make it a national holiday (that's right folks, it hasn't always been on the third Thursday of the month...lol) and finally to a President who changed the date.
And after all that, what do we have? Food comas, shopping frenzies, balloons marching down Fifth Ave., and Football. Take that pilgrims!
The Turkey - Where did the idea come from that we would take a large bird, mix some starchy, over-seasoned concoction and proceed to stuff the birds ass with it? Don't get me wrong....I love me some stuffing but it's an interesting and slightly disturbing method.
The Fixings - The First Thanksgiving Party-Goers probably 'feasted' on local fruits, grains, fish and boiled vegetables. So where in the world 'Mac n Cheese', 'Deviled Eggs' and I shutter to say it, ' Green bean Casserole' came from, makes me wonder? Nothing smells or tastes like Thanksgiving like an eggy fart. Yum.
Parades - I don't like em. I don't watch em. And I see no value in em. It's really just the commentators I cannot stand to watch or listen too. The fake smiling, interest and excitement is disconcerting and they 'squeal'. No.
Pretty sure the colonists weren't blowing up animal bladders and dragging them around the colony.
Football - Oh I can get on board with that. (Yes, it's not exactly traditional....BUT you never know....the original settlers might have played a game or two after the meal?....I can justify anything)
Family and friends sitting around, chewing on a leg of turkey and yelling pointlessly at a TV screen....Ahhhh, yes.
Shopping Frenzy, of you I have never forgotten......
SERIOUSLY? Although it might have some history of its own, which pains me to admit.
FDR was convinced to push back the Thanksgiving holiday after World War I, to encourage consumers to buy more and buy early. The idea was that if Thanksgiving fell on November 30, then it shortened the period of time people had to shop for Christmas. The country was still struggling after the war and retailers hoped that people spending money would bolster the weakened economy.
Encouraged by this extra week and a righteous campaign ad asking Americans to, " Do your part and shop early for Christmas!" a national Thanksgiving pastime was born.
Despite this historical precedent, it has now morphed into a national rampage of crazed consumers, camping outside retailers for days on end, roughing their way into stores for a 'bargain'..."Look Ma, 3 pairs of socks for a $1....BUY ALL THE SOCKS!!!!"
Buying a captain chair, tent, thermos, and Ipad = $600
Waiting outside WalMart for a day to save $100 = PRICELESS
Thanksgiving. A National holiday.
How I see it.
Food, family and spending time away from the stresses of the world.
Hunkered down in a home filled with cooking smells.
Cuddling on the couch watching a game of football.
Flailing around a 25 pound turkey he HAD to have and laughing when we aren't sure how to 'safely' remove it from the oven because we chose to use a flimsy aluminum tray.
Bringing food to our friends and to those who couldn't cook for themselves.
Sharing our feast with those we love and those we want to know better.
Stacking the plates in the sink and forgetting about them to the next day...because there are board games to play!!
People often say, remember the true meaning of Christmas.
Why not take a moment to remember the true meaning of Thanksgiving.
Giving Thanks.
Remembering those who cannot be home for the holidays.
Giving Thanks for their sacrifice and their service.
