Caitlin Noe ’24 is a Government and Psychology double major. She is also a member of Amnesty International and Film Society. She participated in the DC Summer Institute American Politics program this summer. Email Caitlin at cjnoe@email.wm.edu.
The author’s opinions are their own.
Thanksgiving is an underrated holiday. In fact, it’s the best. But by the time Nov. 1 rolls around, many people are already talking about the December holidays. Some even start listening to Christmas music. One minute it’s Halloween and the next it’s Christmas? What? Thanksgiving deserves more recognition.
Thanksgiving is like Christmas but with less pressure and fewer expectations. You don’t need to worry about finding the perfect presents or worry about all the decorations you need to put up before the relatives get in. It is also not overly commercialized or overhyped. It’s more casual and there is not the immense pressure build-up experienced during Christmas. In general, there is less pomp and circumstance surrounding the holiday. I find it much more relaxing.
Thanksgiving is simply the holiday for food and family. You enjoy the time you have with your relatives over a turkey and the most important part of your meal, the stuffing. I am also just a sucker for the Thanksgiving Day Parade and National Dog Show. I look forward to watching both every year. It’s also the only holiday where it is socially acceptable to take a nap and be lazy from the inevitable food coma.
On top of that, Thanksgiving is during one of the most beautiful times of the year, fall. I much prefer the weather in fall to the weather during the winter. And who doesn’t love fall leaves? It is a gorgeous time of year. Many of my favorite family photos were taken during Thanksgiving. It’s quite literally a stunning holiday.
Another reason to love Thanksgiving is it always comes around at just the right time. The point in the year, where I think we could all agree we are in desperate need of a break. It gives us a moment to rest and recover in the company of our families. Then when it’s over, we don’t have to wait much longer for winter break. Thanksgiving marks the beginning of the holiday season and more good times to come.
Although it can be cringy to go around a table saying what you’re thankful for, there is something pretty special about reflecting on the good things in life. It’s just pretty darn wholesome if you think about it. It’s the one day a year where we are forced to appreciate what we have instead of commiserating about what we do not. I often leave the Thanksgiving dinner table in better spirits than when I sat down.
This Thanksgiving has an even more special significance for my family. This will be my first Thanksgiving with my grandparents since the pandemic. I certainly feel I have a lot of things to be thankful for this year. This holiday is just another reminder of that.