Look I love Christmas as much as the next person, in fact, I am probably more festive than most people when it comes to Christmas. If you were to go into my closet right now you would find at least five Christmas sweaters with matching socks, and coordinated headbands with antlers and Santa hats on them. I only ask that we save the Christmas festivities until black Friday! Thanksgiving is such a unique holiday for the United States, that we should not overlook it. No other country celebrates this holiday so we should celebrate it with as much enthusiasm as any other holiday.

First off, you cannot look me in the eyes and honestly tell me that Thanksgiving does not have the best food. Sure, birthdays have cake, and Christmas has milk and cookies, but Thanksgiving has food for everyone. Turkey is a classic, but I have a whole separate plate for stuffing every year. There are cranberries, rolls, mashed potatoes, pumpkin pie, and my mom makes a bomb green bean casserole every year that always has a place on my plate. This is the only time of year that will not be judged for eating your weight in food. It is also the only time of year that all the food is exceptional, so you don't even feel bad eating it!

However, the best thing about Thanksgiving is the traditions. Thanksgiving is known for family traditions. My Thanksgivings are always filled with slightly competitive card games, the delicious smell of the turkey cooking, and possibly some table tennis if we have the energy after the meal. Most of the time there is snow outside in Littleton, Colorado, and the air is brisk and biting, but yet we always end up playing some game outside. I always get to reconnect with friends and family that I haven't seen in at least a year and have a blast. Even if you are the Chandler Bing of Thanksgiving, you have Thanksgiving traditions whether you realize it or not, like telling scarring stories.

Thanksgiving is also the perfect place and time to reflect on everything wonderful that is going on in your life. Life is chaotic and overwhelming. It is so easy to get caught up in all the things that go wrong, but during Thanksgiving, you can step back, really look at the past year and appreciate how truly blessed you are to have the life you have. At what other time do people actually do this? NEVER.

I understand that the Christmas fever is highly contagious, especially when Mariah comes on the radio with "All I want for Christmas", but all I ask is that you give Thanksgiving a little bit of the spotlight. Thanksgiving deserves it. If you appreciate everything you have in November, it makes you feel better about the gifts you receive in December. So have a bountiful Thanksgiving THEN a Merry Christmas!