Today, in the United States, people celebrate Thanksgiving Day — a holiday that embodies national, familial, and religious importance. In recent years, democratic ideals and civil coexistence have been challenged in the country. Therefore, it is crucial to recall the deeper meaning of this cultural holiday, a mix of a secular and a religious celebration. Thanksgiving also bears both public and private significance; it is a celebration of extended families expressing gratitude for a life that spans generations.
This holiday transcends mere familial gatherings; it brings together the nation without references to military victories or aggressive patriotic speeches. There are no military parades or remembrances of past wrongs or land grabs. Instead, Thanksgiving is a celebration of peace, honoring a resilient humanity that has flourished despite hardships and living in harmony with nature and diverse peoples.
Who do we thank? Many people express gratitude to different notions of God; even those who see themselves as materialistic or atheists have something to celebrate, thank, and honor. As a result, this holiday can also connect with non-religious people, who find meaning and thankfulness in life itself.
Thanksgiving symbolizes a vast and diverse nation, one that nurtures a national identity rooted in principles of civil coexistence rather than tribalism and exclusion. It is a multicultural celebration that honors diverse traditions while promoting a shared sense of identity through the appreciation of diversity.
What about the natives? It is important to recognize that some Native Americans choose not to celebrate Thanksgiving, and rightly so in many respects. Since 1970, protesters have highlighted the genocide that followed the arrival of settlers. Conversely, some Native Americans embrace its meaning, recalling how the first Thanksgiving involved both English colonists and members of the Wampanoag nation. There are many debates surrounding the holiday, from issues of turkey slaughter to commercialization and Native genocide. However, what is vital is the focus on the core principles of Thanksgiving and on a nation built on ideals of coexistence and tolerance. These ideals have later been betrayed.
Thanksgiving is celebrated by people from various cultures — Chinese, Swedish, Hindu, Muslim, Italian, Jewish, and Mexican — primarily as a way to express gratitude by bringing families together. Our individual families represent the larger collective of our nation and humanity at large. Often, we don’t know exactly whom to thank, perhaps life itself, along with the world and society we live in and help shape. This reflects the common theme in American tradition of secular religiosity — a celebration that fulfills our natural desire for community and thankfulness.
Thus, Thanksgiving becomes a celebration of happiness, a right proclaimed by the founding fathers for all citizens. It turns happiness into a duty: the obligation to seek it for ourselves and others, while fostering pride in who we are, free from victimhood. No one should feel inferior because of their background, income, or social role; instead, we should continually strive for our own well-being and that of others.
