Catholic Corner

     Thanksgiving, a holiday typically associated with food, family and gratefulness, was originally about the pilgrims showing their gratitude toward the Native Americans. Since many people focus on the food during the holiday, we should pay more attention to the gratitude part of the holiday. 

     According to Britannica Kids, the holiday began with the pilgrims’ crops not being able to grow during a rough winter. The Wampanoag tribe helped them grow crops due to their firm respect for nature. The pilgrims then threw a feast to celebrate, and the Wampanoag heard about it. That caused them to go to the feast with even more food. Then the two groups celebrated and feasted for three days. 

     Though gratitude may not have been the original message, that is what it has come to over time. But even with it being the new meaning of a holiday, its definition goes without much attention. 

     The website Catholic Culture stated that gratitude is realizing a costless and undeserving gift from God. It is then expressed in good words and deeds and is then realized with appreciation and acknowledgement. It could also include being happy with things that are present in your life. 

     Gluttony exists as a contrast to gratitude. Its definition, according to the Catechism of the Catholic Church is overindulgence of food or drink. The unfortunate reality is that gluttony has increased along with the holiday, causing many to lose the true meaning of Thanksgiving. But as concerns over health grow, many people become cautious on what they eat. 

     There are many ways to show gratitude on Thanksgiving. One way can be taking turns with loved ones telling what you are grateful for. My family and I have done it every Thanksgiving. My mom, aunts and uncles have been celebrating it that way with my grandparents since they were kids. 

     On Catholic Digest, they offer a prayer that you can say on Thanksgiving, called the ‘Thanksgiving Prayer.’ “For each new morning with its light, for rest and shelter of the night, for health and food, for love and friends, for everything thy goodness sends.” This prayer beautifully portrays Thanksgiving gratitude. 

     Simply thanking God is another way to celebrate gratitude. Shifting the focus of the holiday does not need to be difficult, it can just be saying ‘thank you.’ Whenever I am too busy to stop and say a full prayer to God, I look up at the sky or the ceiling and express my gratitude. 

     This Thanksgiving, we should all focus on expressing gratefulness to God for the people and things in our lives. This can be done by sharing what we are thankful for, praying or saying thank you.