Thanksgiving and Christmas are my two favorite holidays. It sounds strange, but sometimes I feel sorry for Thanksgiving. Constantly overshadowed by Christmas, Thanksgiving is implicitly labeled as the fly-over holiday, as a pit stop on the road to a tinsel-covered, holly-jolly destination. In my opinion, Thanksgiving has just as much (if not more) to offer than Christmas in the way of perks. Here’s a few of my top reasons:

1. The Food

Thanksgiving is even more food-centered than Christmas, and it’s fun to eat special foods for this holiday (even the weird ones…). The flavors of Thanksgiving food are a unique blend of the October spiciness and Christmas homeyness, striking a delicious balance. While Halloween and Christmas are dominated by endless candy and cookies, Thanksgiving has an extensive list of foods that have been associated with it for centuries. My favorites include mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes with marshmallows and pumpkin pie.

2. The Timing

Since Thanksgiving happens before Christmas, it’s your first chance to catch up with extended family. Christmas can be awkward because…I just saw you guys four weeks ago! For families who have to choose between one or the other, the close timing of these two holidays works out nicely. There is no doubt that Thanksgiving is the hipster of all holidays, being one that always falls on the fourth Thursday in November. Since there are no gifts, there’s more quality time that can be spent with family and friends, which is truly something to be thankful for.

3. Less Hype

One of the best things about Thanksgiving is that there is less overall cultural hype. The most stressful part of Thanksgiving is the food (usually) and these days you could make it all in the microwave if you were really feeling lazy (Hungry Man Thanksgiving dinner, anyone?). Christmas comes with the pressure to decorate, get perfect gifts, and keep the tree alive while praying for snow. The celebration of Christmas gets so built up that by the time it’s the 25^th, most people are exhausted and sick of celebrating. Christmas can get really in your face, while Thanksgiving takes a more hands-off approach. Christmas cannot really be escaped, but Thanksgiving is less confrontational. The panic period for Thanksgiving is much shorter, lasting a mere 24 hours prior to the big day. Most of us don’t overshadow Halloween by celebrating Thanksgiving early, therefore we are mentally prepared to celebrate on the big day.

 

I hope that you will take time during this busy season to think about what you are truly thankful for. We live lives that some people could only dream about and take many things for granted. I was inspired by a Facebook friend to post something I am thankful for every day in the month of November. This experiment has made me aware of how richly I have been blessed and how much I take for granted. Tell people you love them, thank them of all that they do, and be a faithful friend. Nothing in life is guaranteed, so take time to give thanks. I hope you all have a wonderful day with family and friends. Happy Thanksgiving!