There are two types of people in November: those who enjoy the last bits of fall and those who head straight into the Christmas season. Thousands of years ago, it was posited that Pilgrims and Wampanoags gathered together to celebrate what is now known as Thanksgiving. But, as the years have passed, Thanksgiving has been demoted to the gateway between Christmas and Halloween. Most people see this underrated Holiday as an awkward period where some begin to string up the Christmas lights, and others keep the fall decor until the day after. Why do so many people just ignore Thanksgiving? This is the consequence of a lack of appreciation for the Thanksgiving season. So many people are oblivious to the true meaning behind it.

The first Thanksgiving occurred in 1621 after the Pilgrims settled in Plymouth, Massachusetts. A Native American tribe named the Wampanoags helped them and established a strong friendship between the groups. As a result, the people gathered together for a meal from the Pilgrims, who thanked the Wampanoags for their help planting crops. Not only is the history of Thanksgiving fascinating, but the food also deserves its own spotlight. During the first celebration, geese, fish, corn, green vegetables, dried fruits, and turkeys were included in the meal. Today, popular food choices include turkeys, mashed and sweet potatoes, green beans, stuffing, and pumpkin pie.

So why is Thanksgiving seemingly “skipped” over? For starters, some Native American people view the holiday as a reminder of genocide and colonialism as more people settled on their land. Shortly after the first feast, violence broke out between another tribe named the Pequot tribe and English colonists. Various policies were created which aimed to eradicate Native American tribes to create room for English expansion. In addition, very few stores across the country sell Thanksgiving-themed products after Halloween ends. Have you ever walked into a store right after Halloween and noticed it’s already filled with Christmas decorations? That’s because Thanksgiving items simply don’t bring in as much profit as Christmas items do, especially on Black Friday. Another cause of underappreciation of Thanksgiving is the lack of music or movies. When people think of Christmas, listening to festive music and watching holiday movies with family are things that come to mind. However, Thanksgiving songs and movies are not very popular or just don’t exist.

While the Christmas season is usually more appreciated, it is imperative to remember that Thanksgiving is a time to be grateful for everything God has given us and a time to spend with family and friends while enjoying blessings that have come our way. So, the next time Halloween ends, let’s pause the Christmas decorations and savor Thanksgiving for the wonderful holiday it truly is.