Thanksgiving overlooked because of Christmas

It’s no secret Halloween is a popular holiday around most college campuses, especially this year, as it happened to be on a Friday, turning it into a weekend-long celebration.

Not being a particular fan of the holiday, I was one of the few who sat at home handing out candy and watching scary movies, which I was perfectly fine with.

What I wasn’t fine with was what came Nov. 1. The very first song I heard the day after Halloween was a familiar tune, one that comes every year.

“Jingle Bells” could be heard ringing throughout the store, and as I perused the aisles I began noticing the unusual amount of red and green scattered everywhere.

I could only conclude one thing — our society has completely forgotten about Thanksgiving and has focused directly on the major money-driven Christmas holiday.

Don’t get me wrong, Christmas is absolutely, hands-down, my favorite time of year. But I pride myself on being patient and willing to wait for its arrival, especially with those pesky finals standing in the way.

However, I do not like where our society seems to be heading, forgetting a holiday that celebrates a historical event in America.

I, for one, really enjoy the Thanksgiving holiday. The food is delicious, I’m surrounded by my family and I’m entertained by the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.

Maybe it’s just me, but after an almost full semester of stress, I love gathering with my family enjoying delicious food and drinks.

Another thing I’ve noticed is that everyone is working harder to get the perfect Christmas gift for that special someone. So much so, many retail stores around the country are opening on Thanksgiving Day to generate more revenue.

Just recently, I was asked to take a Thanksgiving Day shift at an old mall job in Sioux Falls because management anticipates a busy day.

While I understand the pressure to get a great gift, I’m not sure it really trumps spending time with family. Ultimately, you will spend time with them for Christmas, and if your family is anything like mine the presents won’t matter.

We need to take a step back and realize how great Thanksgiving really is. It may not have sparked any hit movies or been featured in a catchy musical tune, but it is no less important to celebrate our history with family, food and fun.