Christmas movies, Christmas music, Christmas commercials. At risk of sounding like a grinch, I think we can all agree that November first is a bit too early for all of this. As much as I love the heartwarming story of Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer and the life lessons that are taught in Frosty the Snowman, I feel as though the leaves should have the chance to change and the temperature should drop a little bit before we dust off the movies where snow covers the ground. Too many people put away their Halloween costumes and pull out their stockings and Christmas trees without giving a second thought to Thanksgiving. Here’s a few reasons why Thanksgiving is a holiday not to be forgotten.

The Food.

This is a given as to why Thanksgiving is a necessity. As a first semester college freshman, I have never been more excited for a home cooked meal, not to mention a huge thanksgiving dinner. The thought of eating something other than the pizza from the dining hall is something that I’ve been seeing in my dreams.

Seeing Family.

Having all my family members in one room is never a dull occasion. Whether we are laughing about old memories or debating about different politics, the entire day is interesting.

Gathering for an Un-materialistic Holiday.

There is no expected gift exchange for thanksgiving. No antagonizing over the perfect gift and the stress of “what if they don’t like it” or “are they pretending they don’t have six of the same thing back home”. For Thanksgiving, the only think you need to bring with you is a dessert or a small dish to add to the meal

The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.

The balloons for this parade are roughly about thirty feet wide, 60 feet long, and at least four stories high. I can’t think of a better way to spend my Thursday morning than watching as up to 90 people cartel these over sized balloons around.

Stuffing.

I am fully aware that I already addressed the important of food on this holiday, but I just wanted to reiterate how excited I am, specifically for the stuffing.

I get it, though. Nothing beats the feeling of setting up the tree and pulling out the ornaments while light Christmas songs play in the background. Christmas music is some of the catchiest lyrics ever created. Everyone loves a good family movie night with the large array of Christmas movies to pick from. These wonderful things would all be so much special if they were limited to the month December instead of half of the year.