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As the smells of the turkey, stuffing and potatoes fill my house, anticipation for the great Thanksgiving feast mounts. Thanksgiving is one of our family’s favorite holidays, but it is often overlooked by many amidst Halloween and Christmas. I am one who doesn’t decorate for Christmas before Thanksgiving (and believe me, I LOVE Christmas) because I feel it is important to give Thanksgiving it’s due attention.
The Thanksgiving holiday started back in 1621 when the Pilgrims shared a celebration for a bountiful harvest with the Native Americans because they were instrumental in helping the Pilgrims become farmers and hunters in the new land. They recognized the need to thank God for the bountiful harvest and to celebrate it with family and friends. Their celebration went on for 3 days where they feasted and played games.
The idea to set aside a day for thanksgiving continued when the First Federal Congress passed a resolution on September 28, 1789 upon the request of President George Washington to set aside a “day of public thanksgiving and prayer”. This day was to be Thursday November 26th. President Abraham Lincoln set aside an official day of Thanksgiving to be on November 26, 1863 after expressing gratitude on October 3, 1863 for a pivotal Union victory at the Battle of Gettysburg. This tradition of celebrating a day of Thanksgiving continued nationally until it became official when Franklin D. Roosevelt signed a bill into law making the 4th Thursday in November our national holiday of Thanksgiving.
It is so wonderful to see the trend from the original colonist through our forefathers to even our not so distant presidents recognizing the importance of setting aside a national day to show our thankfulness. Their insight should not be overshadowed or forgotten. It should be celebrated wholeheartedly.
Life can be challenging at times to say the least, but to simply even take one day out of our year to look at all the things we really do have to be thankful about and celebrate them—well, it grounds and humbles us.
Even when we might be in a time of lack, there are still things we can be thankful for. They can be small and simple but still we have something to celebrate. In times of abundance, we have many things to celebrate. Expressing gratitude changes your perspective and outlook. No matter what, we have reason to give thanks and we should embrace this opportunity.
Over the years, I have done different things to express gratitude at our celebrations. Often, we have gone around the table and said what we are thankful for. In another year, I used jute string and paper for all the people to write down what they were thankful for. We then attached them to the jute string as it hung from the archway in our dining room. Sometimes when we make a tangible object where we take a few minutes to write down what we are thankful for, it serves as a constant reminder of what we have to give thanks for.
This year, I’m creating a Thanksgiving Tree. It is easy to create and won’t take much time or money to complete. I just went out to the woods behind me and gathered a branch. I placed it in a container I had around the house. Get creative—the container can be anything you have that will simply hold your branches. No need to go and purchase anything new if you don’t want.
I ordered card stock leaves with pre-punched holes and ribbon included. It made the process easier and more colorful. If you don’t have time to order something before Thanksgiving, you can make it with any kind of paper you have. If you don’t want to make leaf shapes, simply make a circle.
Ask your family or whoever is joining you for Thanksgiving to add leaves to the tree listing things they are thankful for. They don’t have to be limited to just one leaf. See how many leaves you can get on your tree. This can make a great decoration for your celebration besides being a physical reminder of all we have to be thankful for.
My hope for you this Thanksgiving is that you are able to celebrate with a grateful heart. Focus on all that is right in your world because ultimately, we all have so much to give thanks for.
Happy Thanksgiving my friends!!!
Cute idea! I love that you added some history into the post!
Thanks. I think it is interesting to be reminded of how and why we do certain things.
What a beautiful tradition! I always have a Thanksgiving room in the dining area. No Christmas in that room until after Thanksgiving.. but the rest of the house I start early.. Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family, and God bless you all!
Happy Thanksgiving to you as well. That’s so fun that you leave one room to honor Thanksgiving.
Great idea the tree, especially for small children to participate!
This is surely a fun activity for people of all ages but young children would have a blast with this. Have fun!
Great combination of historical facts and Thanksgiving fun.
Thanks so much. Glad you enjoyed it. Have a great Thanksgiving!
The Thanksgiving tree is a really good idea! I love Thanksgiving too and it’s starting to seem like it’s getting pushed out. Unfortunately.
Thanks so much. I totally agree with you. This is one holiday we should surely not be skipping over. Have a great Thanksgiving!
I love the Thanksgiving tree! It would be fun to do with the kids, and every day put a new leaf on it!
Yes indeed. This really could become a whole November activity.
I love this idea!
So glad!!! Hope you get a chance to try it out.
I am right there with you about Thanksgiving. The tree does not go up before Thanksgiving. It is one of my favorite holidays and I will not sell it short. Thanks for the history lesson too.
Thanks so much. Have a fantastic Thanksgiving and may you experience the blessings of the day!
Cute idea.
Thanks. Happy Thanksgiving.
Cute idea! The President of my church challenged the world to flood social media with gratitude everyday for the rest of the year. It is amazing and so cool to see all those things we do take for granted. Happy Thanksgiving
Thanks so much. Gratitude makes such a difference. Happy Thanksgiving.
The Thanksgiving Tree is a wonderful idea! Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday by far, because there’s no hidden (or otherwise) agendas. It’s just about celebration, gathering, the harvest, and giving thanks – so pure.
Your front stoop decorations are fabulous!
Thanks so much. I love Thanksgiving for that same reason. Just such a pure and simple yet powerful holiday!
I love the idea of a Thanksgiving Tree, I have to admit to feeling awkward and put on the spot whenever we have gone around the table. This seems more meaningful then feeling like you have to say what you think others want or expect you to say 🙂
That is such a great point. It gives you a moment longer to think about all the things you might want to give thanks for.
Such a cute idea and so easy. We usually go around the table but I think this year a daily reminder of what we’re thankful for is a must.
I couldn’t agree more. Have a great Thanksgiving.
I recently read a great fiction novel titled, “There, There” – the entire prologue is an enlightening history on a different perspective of Thanksgiving. We enjoy Thanksgiving in our home too, especially because everyone is off and all the stores are closed, there’s not much more you can do besides be with family and friends.
Thanks for sharing. That sounds interesting. Have a great Thanksgiving.
Cute idea. We love Thanksgiving too. Had to cancel our travel plans this year, but will carry on….
Thanks. That’s too bad, but I hope you still have a great Thanksgiving this year!
I love your Thanksgiving tree! So good to always be thankful no matter what is going on.
Thanks so much. I couldn’t agree more.
What an amazing idea! My kids both have small trees in their room that are decorated for every season. I will have to grab some of those leaves for next year! Great way for them to acknowledge all of their blessings!
Such a great idea. What a fun thing for the kids to do.
This is such a great idea! I wanted to do this too!
Thanks. Hope you got a chance to do this as well.
We ALWAYS take a moment and each person at the table must share 1 thing that they are thankful for in their life. It’s a humbling and great tradition!
Indeed. I think it is important to focus on what we have to be thankful for.
Thanksgiving Day, one special day that we set aside to reflect on the many blessings we have in our lives. This year things are different, we are not able to be together as one big family but that has not stopped us from talking and texting one another all day. A Thanksgiving Tree, such a simple but distinctive way to bring out what is on our hearts but not always spoken. During this strange time in our lives I have done a lot of thinking about my blessings, and there are many! First and foremost my loving family, we are always there for each other and can always count on each other for anything, my furry companions who wait for us and give us nothing but unconditional love, the many birds I see everyday at my feeders, the blessings of this our wonderful United States of America and along with that our freedoms, may we always fight for those values we hold so dear, our police officers, firefighters, health care workers, the bright blue sky, the sun, flowers, my closest friends, and the list goes on and on. We are blessed beyond measure, and I can honestly say my Thanksgiving Tree is full of leaves, lets make everyday Thanksgiving Day!
So well stated. Thanksgiving is such a special time of the year. If we can carry that spirit through the rest of your lives all year long, it can be transformational. So happy you were able to find the blessings among the challenges.
What a cute idea and a great way to express gratitude!
Thanks so much. I hope you get a chance to try it out.
What an adorable idea! I didn’t have my kids this Thanksgiving, but I’ll remember to do it with them next year!
Thanks Danielle. Hope you get a chance to try it next year.
Gratitude changes everything! It is so important to reflect and really be grateful for whatever you can think of. I love the Thanksgiving tree idea! Definitely will need to try something like that next year.
Gratitude has made such a difference in my life and I love the tangible expression of the Thanksgiving tree. I hope you are able to try it next year!