Thanksgiving - Is it all about the food?

SGT Ben Keen — Wed, 19 Nov 2014 12:51:42 -0500

I am sure we have all seen this photo before or even have had this happen to us once or twice if not more. Which Thanksgiving just a week away and as I sit here making my plans to travel out to my parents to eat some of my mom's good cooking, got to thinking is it just about the food? We hear year after year that we are to be thankful and don't get me wrong, I truly am. I'm thankful to be here on this planet. I'm thankful for my two amazing kids, I'm thankful to have a job and most importantly, I'm thankful to be able to use my skills to assist fellow Veterans.

But the question still remains, is it about the food? What is it about this one day a year that has all traveling across town, county, state, or country? Why do we put up with a crowded room full of people we see once a year when we could just stay home and enjoy a smaller meal? It is because of the way we were raised? Is it the human need to be around others? Is it looking forward to sitting on the couch with the football game going as you fall asleep into your turkey coma only to wake up to the call for dessert? What exactly causes you to go back and enjoy your mom's oven roasted turkey and hot pumpkin pie?

Response by Capt Richard I P. made Nov 19 at 2014 12:53 PM

Capt Richard I P. — Wed, 19 Nov 2014 12:53:30 -0500

A small annual family reunion focused on thankfulness and good food? Sounds like a great holiday.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 19 at 2014 1:24 PM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 19 Nov 2014 13:24:05 -0500

I always love throwing this pic out - Thanksgiving 2013 in A'stan. But I think this was chicken, not turkey.

Response by PO2 Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 19 at 2014 1:29 PM

PO2 Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 19 Nov 2014 13:29:16 -0500

I have been recently informed that the real reason for Thanksgiving is a trial run for the recipes used for Christmas dinner. Ruined my day...

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 19 at 2014 2:23 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 19 Nov 2014 14:23:06 -0500

Is all about football

Response by SSgt B Mac made Nov 27 at 2014 12:54 PM

SSgt B Mac — Thu, 27 Nov 2014 12:54:22 -0500

My fifth Thanksgiving in a row deployed (contracting), really not anything to brag about and I don't complain. In my experience Thanksgiving couldn't be about the food because sometimes there wasn't any. I'm certain we've all endured, done and or seen things that would make our families cry. When we were in the worst of it we always foundnd a way to keep each other sane through the insanity. Although we can't be home with family, we are all family out here. I'm grateful and humbled daily seeing Marines, Soldiers, Sailors, and Airmen keeping the torch lit.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 26 at 2015 3:50 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 26 Nov 2015 03:50:53 -0500

The issue with most holidays in this day and age is that the origin behind them are so misconstrued and twisted the "meaning" is difficult to identify. Quite honestly, it is whatever you want it to be.

Hallowe'en used to be a day to honor your ancestors that have passed, as well as some mixing of the end of summer. Now it is nothing more than a reason to get candy or to dress up. Christmas, as it is widely recognized now, is a combination of many holidays too, most prevalently Saturnalia. Now it is heavily saturated in consumerism and commercialism. Thanksgiving was originally a holiday to observe the harvest of the previous year. Now it is an excuse to eat a lot and watch football. Hell, in Canada and the USA, it is on different days.

But, like I said earlier, the holiday is what you want it to be. If you want Thanksgiving to be a day centralized on family, togetherness and being thankful for the good things in your life, then make it center on those things and to hell with what the rest of the world is doing.