Have a blessed Thanksgiving this week. We, as Americans, have a plethora of reasons to be thankful. However, the number of people on the news and weather this week who called Thanksgiving “Turkey Day” has amazed me and I have begun to wonder why people have decided to use food-centered naming for a day given for Thanksgiving. This emphasizes the food and informal, festive aspects of Thanksgiving rather than the characteristics of giving thanks for all God has given us.
Other countries that have national days to give thanks don’t have turkey as the centerpoint of their meals. Germany favors chickens and geese, as do most of the European countries. Koreans eat rice cakes filled with sweet or savory ingredients and steamed on pine needles. In Mexico you will find tamales, mole sauce, pozole, and enchiladas on the table, with tamales being the most favored of my friends from Mexico…but I have never heard any of my them call their day to give thanks, “Tamale Day”.
Though the food, customs, and timing may differ, the spirit of Thanksgiving transcends borders, with countries around the world finding their own ways to show gratitude. I feel saying Turkey Day is an insult to the reason for having a National Day of Thanksgiving…of course then there are the hunters that think everyone is out of school and off work only for deer season. (Yes, that is my soapbox for today.)
