ThanksgivingDay,ascelebratedinNorthAmerica,isatimetogatherwithfamilyandfriendstogivethanksforthemanyblessingsenjoyedbythesenationsandtheircitizens.However,tomanypeople,itsmeaningislost.Ithasbecomesimplyanotherdayforhugemeals,dinnerparties,get-togethersorreunions.WhatdoesThanksgivingmeantoyou?

　　Turkeydinners,cranberries,candiedyams,stuffing,mashedpotatoes,pumpkinpieandfamilygatherings—theseareallcommonlyassociatedwithmostAmericans’andCanadians’yearlycelebrationofgivingthanks—ThanksgivingDay!

　　IntheUnitedStates,ThanksgivingisonthefourthThursdayofNovember.InCanada,itisthesecondMondayinOctober.Onthisholiday,aThanksgivingmealispreparedwithallthetrimmings;familiesgathertogetherandtalk,whileotherswatchagameoraparadefilledwithpilgrims,Indiansandothercolonialfigures.SomefamiliesmayevenhavetheirownyearlyThanksgivingtraditions.

　　WhatcomestomindwhenyouthinkofThanksgiving?DoyoupictureatimeofthankfulnesstowardsGod—orisitmerelyoneofeating,partyingorwatchingfootball?

　　Sadly,thelatteriswhatThanksgivinghasbecometomost.Theyhaveforgottenwhythedaywasestablished.Itsmeaninghasslowlydeteriorated,andisnowalmostcompletelylostunderacloudofmediahype,salespitches,marketingtacticsandblitzcommercialism.

　　WhilemanyarefamiliarwiththetraditionalrepresentationoftheoriginalThanksgiving,itishelpfultoexaminethepurposeforwhichitwasfirstcelebrated.Bydoingthis,theday’smeaningwillbefirmlyestablished.