Since I was born & raised in the US, I grew up celebrating Thanksgiving. For the past ten years, I have continued to celebrate Thanksgiving in Ireland. Each year we invite family to join us. It’s not exactly the same since it’s not a day off in Ireland – I cook a big dinner while juggling school runs & homework. But it just wouldn’t feel right to skip Thanksgiving or to change it to the weekend.
As I sat down to write this post, I started thinking about Thanksgiving & why it’s important to me. I Google searched meaning of thanksgiving & this is what Google told me…
Thanksgiving – noun
1. the expression of gratitude, especially to God. “he offered prayers in thanksgiving for his safe arrival”
2. (in North America) an annual national holiday marked by religious observances and a traditional meal. The holiday commemorates a harvest festival celebrated by the Pilgrim Fathers in 1621, and is held in the US on the fourth Thursday in November. A similar holiday is held in Canada, usually on the second Monday in October.
What means the most to me about Thanksgiving when I stop & think about it, is the first part of the definition – the expressing gratitude, especially to God. It’s a day to stop & be thankful for all of the blessings in our lives. One of the quotes I read while preparing this post said not to take the day & leave out the gratitude. I think that’s a really important point! Thanksgiving is not just a day to eat & drink. It’s a day to be grateful.
There’s always something to be grateful for. Thanksgiving is a great time to express gratitude to loved ones. Thanking them for their love, help & support in our lives.
Now that being said, it’s also a day of eating a big tasty dinner & enjoying a glass or two of wine. The dinner & wine tastes all the nicer with a thankful heart & mind!
Even if you don’t celebrate Thanksgiving as a holiday, take this Thursday to stop & say thank you to those who are important in your life. It’s a tradition I love to share with my family.
Happy Thanksgiving! xx
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