As stores discount their pumpkins and candy to make room for Christmas trees and stocking stuffers, and houses switch their cobwebs and spiders for snowmen and reindeer, there’s a clear transition between Halloween and Christmas. Caught between these two holidays is the often overlooked, “10 things you’re grateful for” and turkey dinner holiday of Thanksgiving.
For a holiday that has its own month, like the ones mentioned previously, the holiday has the lifespan of Thanksgiving dinner where the food is consumed eagerly in the moment, but like leftovers, is shoved to the back of the fridge. If the holiday decorations are not already up by the time Thanksgiving rolls around, they are by the time the guests leave the house.
One reason for the turkey being forgotten is the placement of Thanksgiving, sandwiched between the two holidays that are very marketable and that many people look forward to. Between the bags full of candy and the stockings full of gifts, Thanksgiving is the odd one out.
Stores also bring Halloween and Christmas decorations out earlier each year allowing the variety of Christmas decorations to flood stores during November. Thanksgiving also does not offer the same amount of money for retailers as the other two holidays as food is really the only item that is in high demand, leading to stores to focus more on the holidays that will give them a bigger profit.
Immediately after the holiday that practices thankfulness are the two biggest shopping days of the year, Black Friday and Cyber Monday which continue to set new records in spending that increase at the beginning of November. Deals have been arriving well before Black Friday leading to the term Black November to describe the month long deals which can also explain the Thanksgiving snub as people are more focused on holiday shopping.
Another reason that this holiday is often overlooked for the ‘most wonderful time of the year’ is because of the lack of fanfare surrounding the turkey. There are an overwhelming number of Christmas and winter movies, songs and decorations to get people excited for a month-long holiday, but barely any for Thanksgiving. While Thanksgiving is the holiday most well known for food, it has unfortunately turned into one of the only things it is known for.
So as the Thanksgiving leftovers are eaten and the holiday season arrives, remember the turkey by carrying on its legacy of practicing being thankful beyond the holiday and into the new year.
