Our vision from childhood of the immigrants from the Old World, aka 'Pilgrims', sharing their first year's harvest with the Native Americans at a tables loaded with baskets and platters full of turkey, corn, sweet potatoes, cranberries...
all the good things that we traditionally associate with Thanksgiving is a bit romanticized.
Conventional wisdom now tells us how off base our visions of the first Thanksgiving were, but the one thing that hasn't changed is the fact that it was the ultimate potluck dinner.
The Pilgrims invited the Native Americans who had taught them about the foods and planting techniques of the New World to share the bounty of many cooks.
Sound familiar? However, I doubt that during that first year as the surviving Pilgrims celebrated there was any argument over whose stuffing recipe was better or the aesthetics of serving too many foods of the same hue.
It is that spirit of sharing, fellowship and thanks that we celebrate today.
While our childhood impressions may have been a bit eschew, they have paved the way for a lovely start to the winter holiday season.
Thanksgiving is celebrated by almost all cultures, religions, and football teams in America.
The holidays that follow are divided by religion and culture, but it is at Thanksgiving that we share a common bond in the United States.
So, how best to go about celebrating this wonderful time of year? There is no one answer to that.
I will share some thoughts and suggestions, but I hope that we will have some Readers comments with traditions from their own friends and families.
Unless your Thanksgiving is a total train wreck with Mom and Grandma in the kitchen since 3 a.
m.
with everyone else glued in front of the TV, only to have everyone grab their plates, gobble their food and rush back before the halftime break is over.
This is what Tivo is for! Since football is king in so many households, don't fight the obvious.
Survey your guests long before the big day to determine which will be the important games that day to everyone.
With that information in hand, determine when you will have a couple of hours that you can devote to the actually holiday.
By the way, don't allow anyone one to say "all of the games are important!" Time for them to prioritize.
By the same token, don't stand on tradition as to serving time.
It is far better to shelve the "we always eat our meal at 1:00 p.
m.
" in order to have the undivided attention of everyone in the house.
We are a 'the more the merrier' family and although we usually spend Thanksgiving with my husband's mother, on the years that we are home, we include any and everyone that we know who would otherwise be alone for the holidays.
Everyone brings something.
Even if four different people bring their favorite stuffing (or as we say in the South, 'dressing'), that's fine! There is something for everyone and all have a chance to try something new.
Thanksgiving is an emotional holiday built largely on tradition and it hurts no one to meld several traditions together...
especially if you are warming someone's heart with memories of times long gone.
Fall is such a lovely time of year to decorate your home and your table! It is great to have a great view with the trees changing colors, berries on the bushes and such clear skies.
Of course that is not always the case.
My son lives in New York City in a subterranean apartment.
Not much nature out of his window and as such he has a need to bring the outside inside! The grocery store is a great place to find beautiful décor for your fall events in the produce department.
Pumpkins, squash, and dried corn all come in a variety of colors and when piled in baskets or bowls on the hearth, table or outside will welcome visitors to your harvest feast.
Many choices of non-perishable décor are available as well which look wonderful and are especially great where warm weather hastens the demise of fresh décor or in urban areas where it may be pricey and difficult to find.
Whether you are planning a picnic in the woods, a casual meal by the fireplace or a formal candlelit dinner, invite family, friends and neighbors to join you in celebrating life as you give thanks for both the blessings of this life and the trials that shape your sensitivity to others.
©2008 Marilyn Baldwin Lewis
all the good things that we traditionally associate with Thanksgiving is a bit romanticized.
Conventional wisdom now tells us how off base our visions of the first Thanksgiving were, but the one thing that hasn't changed is the fact that it was the ultimate potluck dinner.
The Pilgrims invited the Native Americans who had taught them about the foods and planting techniques of the New World to share the bounty of many cooks.
Sound familiar? However, I doubt that during that first year as the surviving Pilgrims celebrated there was any argument over whose stuffing recipe was better or the aesthetics of serving too many foods of the same hue.
It is that spirit of sharing, fellowship and thanks that we celebrate today.
While our childhood impressions may have been a bit eschew, they have paved the way for a lovely start to the winter holiday season.
Thanksgiving is celebrated by almost all cultures, religions, and football teams in America.
The holidays that follow are divided by religion and culture, but it is at Thanksgiving that we share a common bond in the United States.
So, how best to go about celebrating this wonderful time of year? There is no one answer to that.
I will share some thoughts and suggestions, but I hope that we will have some Readers comments with traditions from their own friends and families.
Unless your Thanksgiving is a total train wreck with Mom and Grandma in the kitchen since 3 a.
m.
with everyone else glued in front of the TV, only to have everyone grab their plates, gobble their food and rush back before the halftime break is over.
This is what Tivo is for! Since football is king in so many households, don't fight the obvious.
Survey your guests long before the big day to determine which will be the important games that day to everyone.
With that information in hand, determine when you will have a couple of hours that you can devote to the actually holiday.
By the way, don't allow anyone one to say "all of the games are important!" Time for them to prioritize.
By the same token, don't stand on tradition as to serving time.
It is far better to shelve the "we always eat our meal at 1:00 p.
m.
" in order to have the undivided attention of everyone in the house.
We are a 'the more the merrier' family and although we usually spend Thanksgiving with my husband's mother, on the years that we are home, we include any and everyone that we know who would otherwise be alone for the holidays.
Everyone brings something.
Even if four different people bring their favorite stuffing (or as we say in the South, 'dressing'), that's fine! There is something for everyone and all have a chance to try something new.
Thanksgiving is an emotional holiday built largely on tradition and it hurts no one to meld several traditions together...
especially if you are warming someone's heart with memories of times long gone.
Fall is such a lovely time of year to decorate your home and your table! It is great to have a great view with the trees changing colors, berries on the bushes and such clear skies.
Of course that is not always the case.
My son lives in New York City in a subterranean apartment.
Not much nature out of his window and as such he has a need to bring the outside inside! The grocery store is a great place to find beautiful décor for your fall events in the produce department.
Pumpkins, squash, and dried corn all come in a variety of colors and when piled in baskets or bowls on the hearth, table or outside will welcome visitors to your harvest feast.
Many choices of non-perishable décor are available as well which look wonderful and are especially great where warm weather hastens the demise of fresh décor or in urban areas where it may be pricey and difficult to find.
Whether you are planning a picnic in the woods, a casual meal by the fireplace or a formal candlelit dinner, invite family, friends and neighbors to join you in celebrating life as you give thanks for both the blessings of this life and the trials that shape your sensitivity to others.
©2008 Marilyn Baldwin Lewis