Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays. It is not celebrated in Ireland, so when I arrived on these shores it was all new to me.
Ever since I celebrated my first Thanksgiving in Elmira, New York in 1988, I have grown to love and appreciate this holiday.
I love cooking, and what better occasion is there to flex those culinary muscles, without feeling the extra pressures of gift buying, wrapping and decorating. Today, to celebrate this amazing national holiday, I thought I might share my top ten reasons for loving Thanksgiving.
Table of Contents
1. A Beautiful Beginning
The very first Thanksgiving Holiday Proclamation was made by President Abraham Lincoln in 1863 during the Civil War, a time in our nation's history when few felt truly thankful. His words are inspirational to this day, and sum up the deep meaning of this holiday:
"It has seemed to me fit and proper that God should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged, as with one heart and one voice, by the whole American people. I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November as a day of Thanksgiving and praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the heavens."
- Abraham Lincoln, October 3, 1863
What a beautiful beginning to our national celebration!
2. Presidential Turkey Pardon
You have to love a holiday where the President spares a bird a terrible, but delicious fate.
John F Kennedy was the first President to grant a turkey its freedom at the White House in 1963, with the first official pardon being bestowed by President George H.W. Bush in 1989. The tradition has survived and thrived and now holds the title of National Thanksgiving Turkey Presentation.
3. Togetherness
Thanksgiving is all about family and friends coming together. The primary focus is enjoying each others company, while sharing a magnificent meal with a grateful heart.
When I see my street lined with cars and watch people arriving to welcoming neighbors' homes, as they balance dishes and tote coolers, I get a lump in my throat. Thanksgiving makes me proud to be an American, where family and friends are the center of the universe.
4. Green Bean Casserole
Green bean casserole is good, old-fashioned, American cuisine. I first tasted this delectable delight twenty-four years ago, and ever since I look forward to it every Thanksgiving. It's those crunchy french-fried onions I crave.
Now I love a brined turkey, served with roast potatoes and sweet potato casserole too.
And one of the most popular side dishes for Irish Americans is none other than mashed rutabaga. What an amazing meal.
5. Guilt-Free Eating
Thanksgiving is a day to wear a loose dress or an elastic-waisted pants, and forget about calories, fat, and the do's and dont's of healthy eating.
Permission is granted to pig out, and enjoy every last morsel. Just bring it on!
6. Leftovers
I love leftovers, especially turkey and all the trimmings. I never object to a three-peat of turkey dinners, but if I have the time and energy I can always make a turkey curry with apples and raisins, or a turkey and mushroom casserole.
The choices are endless, so bring on the leftovers. But remember, if you want to have plenty of leftovers you have to pay the price and host the dinner.
7. Football
I am not an avid American football fan. I didn't grow up living and breathing the game, so I don't appreciate the intricacies and nuances of each play.
However, I do appreciate a day, where stretching on the couch with a full belly to watch a great game, is a traditional ritual. My little Green Bay Packer fan already looks forward to Thanksgiving football, and he is only five.
8. Thankfulness
I looked up the dictionary to find the meaning of thankfulness. It is defined as being conscious of benefit received, well-pleased, glad or expressive of thanks.
I believe Americans fulfill all these meanings on Thanksgiving Day.
9. Inclusiveness
Every American is included no matter their ethnic background, culture or religion. This holiday is for everyone. Perhaps I like it so much because it commemorates how newcomers were first welcomed to this great land by celebrating the harvest with their Native American neighbors.
This warm, inviting tradition of inclusiveness continues to this day. As an immigrant to this country, every single Thanksgiving I have been extended a hand of friendship and asked to join an American friend as they feast. Now I welcome others to my home in return.
10. Christmas Is Just Around The Corner
Thanksgiving is a precursor to Christmas, a welcome reminder of all that is yet to come.
I hope this year Thanksgiving will serve as a great reminder to us to act on our gratitude over the coming month and year. I pray these days of plenty may encourage us to do what we can to help those who are not so fortunate.
Wishing you all a very
Happy Thanksgiving.
Slán agus beannacht,
(Goodbye and blessings)
Mairéad -Irish American Mom
Pronunciation - slawn ah-gus ban-ock-th
Mairéad - rhymes with parade
Irish Side Dishes
- Buttered Baby Carrots
- Healthy Honey Roasted Parsnips Recipe
- Mustard Champ - An Easy and Flavorful Irish Side Dish
- How To Make Apple Chutney Irish Style
Holidays
- Leprechaun Tricks And Pranks For St. Patrick's Day
- Labor Day Reflections
- Saint Patrick's Day Around The World
- Thanksgiving - The Irish Connection
tom@morethanpepper
love the pics happy thanksgiving from canada
Irish American Mom
Thanks, Tom. Hope you had a lovely Canadian Thanksgiving too.
Aimee
I didn't know that Lincoln was the first to declare Thanksgiving a holiday! How neat! My boys love Lincoln and now I have something cool to tell them about him at the table tonight!
Irish American Mom
I only just learned about Lincoln too, as I was reading about the history of Thanksgiving. Living in Kentucky I think we really want to learn more about this great President. I took my kids to the Lincoln homestead this summer, but they were a little young to really appreciate it.
Aimee
My boys love Lincoln! We have yet to make it out to his birthplace or homestead (or even his wife's family home), but they're on our list of things to do with the grandparents! Hopefully we'll get there soon. I don't know if you've heard about his boyhood home in Indiana, but it's supposed to be pretty cool too. http://www.nps.gov/libo/index.htm It looks like it's only 1.5 hours from Louisville- not too bad!
Irish American Mom
Aimee - We'll have to take a trip to Indiana in the spring to see Lincoln's boyhood home there - a perfect distance for a day trip from Louisville.
Mairead
Aimee
I don't think it's that bad of a trip from Lexington either! After looking at it, I want to go now! But we'll have to put it on our summer bucket list instead. 🙂
Irish American Mom
Aimee - Lexington is only a stone's throw from Louisville, so you should easily be able to do this trip in a day. We might see you there next summer.
Mairéad
Grammy
Happy Thanksgiving Mairead! I love your list of reasons why you love it!
Irish American Mom
Thanks Grammy - hope you had a lovely day too.
Kay G.
Lovely post on Thanksgiving. I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving and are looking forward to Christmas!
Irish American Mom
Kay - Christmas fever is beginning to take hold of my little ones. "Are the elves out yet?" - my little girl keeps asking. She is writing lists for Santa and sticking them to the windows facing out, so that the elves will be able to relate her special requests to Santa.
Hope you had a lovely day yesterday. We had gorgeous mild weather here in Kentucky. I hope mother nature was just as kind to Georgia.
All the best,
Mairead
Penny Wolf
Great top ten!
Thanksgiving really is everyday!
Irish American Mom
Penny - I hope you had a lovely Thanksgiving. So true about thankfulness - we should remember the Thanksgiving spirit every day.
Best wishes,
Mairead
Jennifer
Love this blog!! Am Irish so have yet to experience Thanksgiving:) xxxxxxxxxxxx
Irish American Mom
Jennifer - I hope some day you do experience an American Thanksgiving. The dinner menu is very like an Irish Christmas dinner, with turkey and stuffing, but no ham. Sweet potato casserole is typically American, but any choice of vegetables can be included. Turkey is not served for Christmas as much over here as it is in Ireland. I suppose a big turkey dinner two months in a row is a little much for anyone.
All the best, and thanks for stopping by,
Mairead
Vince
Were you there in a linen twinset holding an Emu sized bird in a charger while beaming brightly . But are now in dire need of a holiday to de-stress.
Irish American Mom
Don't worry, Vince. I was nice and relaxed from all the turkey I ate, as I scrubbed the gravy stains out of my linen Pilgrim smock, ironed it and packed it away for next year. Thanks for a good laugh!
Brian@irelandfavorites
Hi Mairead, I hope your Thanksgiving was as glorious as your post makes it sound, Thanksgiving is truly the best holiday as we thank God for all the blessings He has bestowed on us, and we get pumpkin pie with real whipped cream. You might want to check out Presidents George Washington's Thanksgiving proclamation, I love to bring up Washington when people spread the deceptions of separation of church and state. Like around the dinner table, my apologies for getting political,
Cheers,
Brian.
Irish American Mom
Brian - Thanks so much for recommending I read Washington's Thanksgiving Proclamation - such meaningful words from one of the founding fathers of this country. I must remember to read this Proclamation each Thanksgiving. I think I am getting very sentimental as years go by. I love to learn about this nation's ritual traditions and rather than taking them at face value, delve in and find out more about their historical significance. I can just see my kids in years to come, rolling their eyes and thinking - there she goes again rambling on about Washington and Lincoln.
Hope you enjoyed lashings of real whipped cream on that pumpkin pie. Enjoy the rest of the holiday weekend.
Mairead
Ruth Choudhury
As an Irish immigrant living in the US for over 15 years now, I have come to love this American Holiday too, but just recently I found a very significant Irish connection to the whole celebration of giving thanks that has made it truly special for this Irish gal! I thought you might like to know 🙂
http://www.irishculturalsociety.org/essaysandmisc/thanksgiving-irish.html
Irish American Mom
Dear Ruth - Thanks so much for this link about the Irish Connection to Thanksgiving. I had never heard this story before. It definitely makes this holiday even more special to Irish Americans like you and me.
Wishing you and your family a very happy Thanksgiving.
Best wishes,
Mairéad
Taja Stewart
Hi Irish American Mom, I enjoyed reading the article.
There is a factual typo in your 1st reason for loving Thanksgiving (1. A BEAUTIFUL BEGINNING:):
In the first sentence, you accidentally typed 1963, instead of 1863.
Irish American Mom
Hi Taja - Thanks so much for reading my recipes and ramblings. I'm so glad you enjoyed this article about Thanksgiving. Many thanks for finding and pointing out that typo. I've made the correction in the text and updated this post, thanks to you.
Best wishes,
Mairéad