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,aThanksgivingmealisPparedwithallthetrimmings;familiesgathertogetherandtalk,whileotherswatchagameoraparadefilledwithpilgrims,Indiansandothercolonialfigures.SomefamiliesmayevenhavetheirownyearlyThanksgivingtraditions.

WhatcomestomindwhenyouthinkofThanksgiving?DoyoupictureatimeofthankfulnesstowardsGod?orisitmerelyoneofeating,partyingorwatchingfootball?

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

WhilemanyarefamiliarwiththetraditionalrePsentationoftheoriginalThanksgiving,itishelpfultoexaminethepurposeforwhichitwasfirstcelebrated.Bydoingthis,theday'smeaningwillbefirmlyestablished.