BY CASSIDY NOWASAD
When November first hits people throw their pumpkins from previous nights endeavours and replace it with snowmen. The shelves full of candy and various costumes and makeup are replaced with ornaments and menorahs. Many people disregard the holiday in between, Thanksgiving; this may not, however, be a bad thing. To explain in full you’d have to look into the history behind the holiday’s creation compared to the secularized version it has become.
“I like Thanksgiving because we share what we’re grateful for so that’s very important, but I don’t like the history behind [the holiday],” CCHS Sophomore Madison Gailboord said.
The main issue lies within how the Thanksgiving story is portrayed to the American public, and especially to schoolchildren. In their view, the traditional narrative shows relations between the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag people that makes the long and bloody history of conflict between Native Americans and European settlers look more like friendly interaction rather than conflict resulting in the deaths of millions. Since 1970, protesters have gathered on the day designated as Thanksgiving at the top of Cole’s Hill, which overlooks Plymouth Rock, to commemorate a “National Day of Mourning.”
“The ‘unification’ of Indians and Pilgrims wasn’t really cooperation. It was more the pilgrims wearing down the Indians and basically forcing them into helping the Pilgrims,” CCHS Sophomore Abigail Black said. “Mass genocide should not be celebrated.”
Today the holiday revolves around parades and parties used as an excuse to eat excessive amounts. The symbols of the holiday have become Turkeys and Pumpkin Pie, despite the holiday’s brutal past because society’s tendency to be uninformed and to romanticize holidays to revolve around food and gifts, it is estimated that about 46 million turkeys were eaten in the United States on Thanksgiving 2012 and that about 50 million people watch the thanksgiving parade each year. This is most likely due to our society becoming heavily materialistic, people tend to focus on things such as fame or items for pleasure and for happiness.
The brutal past of this holiday which began with the mistreatment given to the indians by the colonists has been changed over time to believe a more positive outlook on it. Due to times changing people have transformed this holiday into one revolving around food and spending time with family which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. However it is important to recognize the origins of the holiday and understand how materialistic society is becoming.
