Read Thanksgiving is the Worst Holiday here.

From the pretty Autumn colors to the most exquisite food, Thanksgiving is the best holiday, period. The holiday season consists of three huge holidays, and as the spooky season ends, November 1st becomes a day of Christmas lights, and festive songs start playing on the radio, skipping the most important holiday. 

Although Thanksgiving’s past can be seen similarly to Columbus Day as a celebration of the conquest of Native Americans by the colonists, it really was a day of the Pilgrims and Native Americans looking past their differences. Nowadays, this holiday has even more meaning than this. 

Thanksgiving is a day of family and friends, inclusiveness and being grateful. However, it’s mostly known for it’s delicious food. Which is one of the main reasons why I love it so much. 

Although we should be thankful for what we have every day, we are more thankful around this time as it’s in the name…THANKSgiving. To give thanks for what you have is one of the most humbling things during stressful times of life and is linked to a mental wellness. 

“Having a grateful attitude has been shown by researchers to boost positivity, joy and love, and decrease feelings of depression, envy and resentment,” according to Adventist Health. “The more you discipline your mind toward grateful thoughts, the more this mindset may change your outlook for the better.”

Not just that, but by spending time with family and friends you are improving your relationships as gratitude, like expressing thanks to others, is linked to improving their lives and creating a stronger relationship. With my family living pretty far away from me, being able to come together for this time is something I look forward to every year. 

Now asking Twitter why they liked Thanksgiving, I got two answers: food and family.

“I like spending time with my loved ones and getting hella fat on the food ‘cause it’s delicious,” said Camryn Sperry, a junior at Millennium. 

Senior at Agua Fria, Hassan Sanchez, said, “It’s about the food! It’s my favorite holiday ever! THE YAMS! THE MACARONI!” 

The food is where it’s at. From the savory turkey to the delectable mashed potatoes to the scrumptious pumpkin pie, I don’t get how you could hate this holiday. 

Although some people link Thanksgiving to gluttony and becoming obese, this isn’t the only holiday based on food… *cough, cough* Halloween, and there’s the same amount of food at Christmas. 

Best worded by USA today, Thanksgiving is the best “because it isn’t focused on presents or extravagant decorations – it’s about sitting down for a delicious meal, surrounded by friends and family. There we get to take some time to reflect on our lives, and to appreciate what we have, who we are, and where we are right now.”

Christmas is always a great time, but it’s more centered on gifts rather than Thanksgiving’s meaning of being grateful for what we already have. My family has always come together on Thanksgiving rather than Christmas for this reason, coming together with those we love. 

Not to mention, both Christmas and Halloween are holidays that can fall more on the religious side. Some parents don’t allow their kids to celebrate Halloween as it celebrates demons and witches, all against God. Although many Americans are Christian which Christmas falls under, there are also people who celebrate Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Winter Solstice, or Chinese New Year instead. 

Although one could argue Thanksgiving is mainly celebrated in the US, it’s also celebrated in Canada. The idea of Thanksgiving should be celebrated everywhere with gratitude and family. 

A holiday based on thanks and being grateful is one that should be of major importance in our lives. Happy holidays, but more specifically, Happy Thanksgiving! Thanks for reading!

Read Thanksgiving is the Worst Holiday here.