Every year, on the fourth Thursday of November, families will gather together to give thanks for all of the things that they have. However, in recent years, it seems as if fewer and fewer families are coming together. It also seems as if people are forgetting what Thanksgiving is all about.

In order to be historically accurate, we must acknowledge the relationship between the Pilgrims and the Native Americans. We all think that it was pleasant, but it was anything but. However, on their Thanksgiving, they did come together to give thanks. This holiday is not a day to bring up the massacre of Natives by the Pilgrims, though terrible. Instead, be grateful that you are able to live the life you want. Be grateful for the ones around you, whether they be family, friends, or pets. Be grateful that you did not have to go through what the indigenous people went through. This is a day to come together and celebrate your life and eat some good food, all the while giving thanks for the lifestyle you were given.

Now, here is the thing that grinds my gears: why do department stores forget that Thanksgiving is a thing? Before Halloween is even over, there are Christmas trees and garland filling every Target, Macy's, and Sears. Not only does this make absolutely no sense, but it enables erasure. I understand that the holiday season is one of the best seasons for companies, but by forgetting Thanksgiving, you are furthering erasure of history.

By erasure, I mean that you are trying not to recognize that at one point in history, even for one day, two completely different groups of people could come together and enjoy a meal, setting all of their animosity aside. As I said before, I do not mean that we should forget the relationship that the pilgrims and native people had, because it is something that everyone should be educated about.

I understand that everyone loves the December holiday season. there's Hannukah, Christmas, Kwanzaa, and many more. Decorating and enjoying the season is always a blast, but we don't need to celebrate the day after Halloween. Even though there aren't any Thanksgiving songs, unless you count Adam Sandler's "Thanksgiving Song", but that's no reason to blast Mariah Carey's "All I Want For Christmas Is You" on November 1st at 2 in the morning. Once you see Santa Clause ride in his sleigh during the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, that's when it's appropriate to start celebrating Christmas.

Basically, we may never know why Thanksgiving is always forgotten, but hopefully, that can be changed. I can't change outlooks or perspectives of others on the holiday, but hopefully we can all give thanks for this life that we are living.