One of the symbols that is traditional this time of year is the cornucopia, or “horn of plenty”. It represents an abundance, particularly in terms of nourishment and is commonly seen filled to the point of overflowing with the produce of the harvest such as fruits, vegetables and nuts.
Many of us have our favorite treats this time of year and the traditional Thanksgiving turkey is one of the featured items on the menu in many homes.
We also look to such things as pumpkin pie, cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes and gravy, green bean casserole and other savory or sweet items on the menu. Many people have nontraditional meals, that range from the tofu “turkey”, or a savory roast or even vegetarian or vegan meals. It is a celebration nonetheless.
In keeping with the theme of abundance, many of us tend to over eat because we have a table full of some of the most succulent items imaginable. Many families get together to observe the holiday and get together. Often people will bring a particular item each year. Thus we do celebrate and indulge in the abundance of the harvest. It is a festive occasion and that is a good thing!
While many of us, myself included, have a tendency to over indulge. There is a secret to avoiding this pesky diet killing habit. It is not starving yourself until Thanksgiving, but rather planning what you will eat, including less calorie dense foods, and planning for snacks to avoid being ravenous. Even if you’re on a diet, remember that moderation is the secret to avoid straying far from the chosen diet, but above all maintain a festive spirit.
The harvest is a culmination of a lot of work, it starts with the preparation of the soil, planting and nurturing of seeds and seedlings. It represents much work to keep the crop free of weeds, insects, and results from good weather as well. We are not the only country that celebrates Thanksgiving, our neighbor to the north, Canada also has a large celebration for Thanksgiving, however, their day of celebration is the second Monday of October.
The bountiful harvest is indeed something to celebrate. We often share with those less fortunate and provide meals for those unable to do so for themselves. These are all honorable traditions and allow us to share the abundance of the harvest with all around us.
Other traditions include Thanksgiving Day parades, football games and a vast assortment of other activities. My earliest memories of Thanksgiving include watching the parades, the festive floats, the pomp and pageantry of the various bands as they marched by playing joyful music. There is something almost magical about the blare of horns, the beats of drums, and the rhythm of the reeds to stir the imagination and emotions.
Even the horses decked out and ridden with majesty and in formation bring joy. As a kid I could imagine myself on one of those powerful but graceful animals. Being in control and having them do everything that I asked them to do. And oh, what joy it was to see the clowns as they passed, we would laugh and get lots of amusement from them as they continued down the parade route, often throwing candy to eager parade watchers.
Because of the time of year, the fourth Thursday in November, here in America. It is often cold, so we bundled up as we went to the parade and other festivities.
We were impervious to the coal because of the excitement. We looked with anticipation to see what the next entry in the parade would bring. We always knew when it was a band because we could hear them marching. We knew when a float is coming because of the ooooohs and aaaaaahs that would be heard from the people that it was passing in front of.
Being from a small town we didn’t have the giant balloons that are seen in some of the larger parades that were televised but ours were just as exciting as that were. In fact, most of the local parades were not held on Thanksgiving Day, but were in the Thanksgiving season.
Many people sacrifice by getting up early and cooking for the family. We need to remember that these people are giving of themselves. We need to remember the reason for the season. While it represents an abundance that we have in our lives we should be thankful for the people that produce it, harvest it, ship it to us and make it available.
When we step into the house and our nose is treated to the most wonderful smells we can ever imagine, roast turkey, dressing, sweet potatoes, pecan pie, and fresh bread. Our eyes are treated with the sights of a turkey golden brown, vegetables and fruits in every color in the rainbow, and the meal that has been prepared let us always remember to give thanks for all that we have.
Many people travel to be together and we have friends and relatives that we have not seen for a long time. There are jokes to tell, there are people with updates on what they have been doing, awards that the kids have won, and in our family, favorite stories that have been told for years, getting more vivid (enhanced) as our memories fadeJ.
As important as the material things in our life are we should always remember that there are other aspects of our life that we need to be thankful for our health, our strength, and those whom we love and who love us. The freedom to have our religious beliefs whatever they may be. Let us share this not only with ourselves and our families but let us not forget those less fortunate than we are.
Happy Thanksgiving to you all!