I’m more of a summer person. I love the warmth, the sunshine, and I love the fact that it's still bright out at 4 o’clock in the afternoon. Once that fall equinox passes, I immediately start the mourning process until the flowers bloom again. One of the things that makes going through the biting gusts of winds, temperatures in the low forties, and dry, cracked hands worth five months of darkness is the one, the only: Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving is my all-time favorite holiday, and I look forward to this one day all year, every year. There are many aspects that I love about this holiday, and here are nine things that I love about Thanksgiving:
1. Food
Food is not just food today. Regular food becomes Thanksgiving food. For some reason, when it’s eaten on Thanksgiving, the turkey tastes a little more homey, the cranberry sauce tastes sweeter, and the mashed potatoes are softer. And no combination of food tastes better than the ones that are eaten on Thanksgiving. The turkey, the stuffing, and the gravy just complement each other so well, and who would know that mashing cranberries and diced carrots that are mixed with corn and peas would be so mouthwatering!
2. Family
For once, we are not all busy at the same time. We get this day to just enjoy each other’s company while all our responsibilities are paused for at least 24 hours. We can sit back and relax, watch TV, and eat ourselves into food comas together. In addition to spending time with my immediate family, I also get to see family members that I don’t get to see that often during the rest of the year. So for the whole entire day, I am surrounded by people that I love as we’re all relaxed and enjoying our time together
3. Friendsgiving
Thanksgiving is the holiday where I can return home for at least four days and catch up with my friends who have been away or who I’ve been away from. Friendsgiving is just a combination of more food and great friends and there’s no way I can ever turn it down.
4. Giving Thanks
I know I’m guilty of it too, but I take so many things for granted. It’s nice to dedicate a day where we can be thankful for the things we have instead of focusing on the things that we don't have. I know that every Thanksgiving I’m thankful that I have a home, food in front of me, and a loving family—because I know others are not as fortunate as I am.
5. Charity
Knowing that I’m lucky enough to have a life that is so comfortable, I appreciate that there is an increase in charities and drives going on during the holiday season. I don’t hesitate to give a donation whenever I’m able to because I know that it will make a difference for someone somewhere.
6. THE PARADE!
The Macy's Thanksgiving Parade is something I don't mind disturbing my slumber for. Ever since I can remember, I've watched this parade every year from beginning to end every Thanksgiving morning on multiple TV channels, and it never gets boring.
7. Football
Whether it’s your hometown high school’s Thanksgiving football game or the NFL game on TV, I feel like football also has a different eel on Thanksgiving Day. There’s more spirit and there’s more noise. Thanksgiving Day football is just on another level than regular day football.
8. Food
Did I mention how much I love Thanksgiving food?
9. Christmas Music
It is an unspoken rule nationwide that you cannot listen to Christmas music until after Thanksgiving. So after Thanksgiving, I can freely blast O Holy Night without being scared that I’m going to get yelled at. I just want to listen to O Holy Night without the constraints of my headphones.
10. When it ends you get to look forward to Christmas…
IF THERE IS ONE THING I LOVE MORE THAN THANKSGIVING IT IS CHRISTMAS.
I hope everyone has a happy Thanksgiving!
