Thanksgiving: Is it a Civil or Religious Holiday?

Catholic Educator's Newsletter ^ | 11.22.04 | FR. WILLIAM SAUNDERS

[Coleus]

I was at the Berkeley Plantation about 5 years ago and saw an older man sitting in the gazebo, so I walked in and started talking to him and it turned out that he was the owner, Mr. Jamison. I was surprised to find out that he grew up in Long Island and isn't a southerner.

And I bet the First Harvest in Massachusetts was in early to mid October when the crops stopped growing and the leaves started to fall. No way was it in November.

[CBart95]

I think you have too much time on your hands Col old doggie. Your little difference of opinion doesn't even qualify as a storm in a teacup.

[Cindy]

THANKSGIVING
http://www.truthusa.com/ThanksGIVING.html

[Clemenza]

And I bet the First Harvest in Massachusetts was in early to mid October when the crops stopped growing and the leaves started to fall. No way was it in November.

Correct. Then again, there is no way that our Lord was born in December either.

According to some, the first Thanksgiving was really on April 30, 1598 and it wasn't in Massachusetts.

http://www.nmgs.org/art1stThanks.htm

[durasell]

As something of a lifelong mooch, I've had the opportunity to attend a wide variety of Thanksgivings, ranging from the deeply religious to the patentedly secular. The real question is, I believe, does the immigrant from a war torn country arriving in the U.S. have less claim to being thankful than the guy who can claim distant relations on the Mayflower?

[Coleus]

What are you talking about?

[dit_xi]

Regardless of what type of holiday it is, civil or religious, IT'S A DAY OFF WORK! IN FACT IT'S 2 DAYS OFF WORK for many, when you count Friday as well. Plus you get to stuff your face with food and all the fixin'. So be thankful for crying out loud!

[dr_lew]

...The real question is, I believe, does the immigrant from a war torn country arriving in the U.S. have less claim to being thankful than the guy who can claim distant relations on the Mayflower?

Well, you're wrong. That's not the real question. The real question is, to whom are we - immigrants and sons and daughters of immigrants - giving thanks ?

[F16Fighter]

"The real question is, I believe, does the immigrant from a war torn country arriving in the U.S. have less claim to being thankful than the guy who can claim distant relations on the Mayflower?"

No...

However, the actual question is whether an American "Thanksgiving" was instituted and sanctioned by our Founders' traditional belief in the Almighty's blessings upon our people.

THAT answer is a resounding YES.

[JRandomFreeper]

The real question is, to whom are we - immigrants and sons and daughters of immigrants - giving thanks ?

That's the exact question I had in mind when I clicked onto this thread.

I know Who I gave thanks to earlier, while taking a break from a wonderful task of feeding our GIs a midnight meal. And I was suprised at how MANY things I had to be thankful for this year.

/john

[durasell]

If by "our people" you mean those descended from the original celebrants, then yes, you're correct. I know a few of those and they do feel a particular pride in the holiday. But I may have misunderstood you.

[Fiddlstix]

BTTT

[F16Fighter]

"If by "our people" you mean those descended from the original celebrants, then yes, you're correct."

I mean ALL U.S. citizens and visitors who believe in the Founder's original intent of an "American" Thanksgiving praising God for His blessings.

[durasell]

Look, I could be wrong, but I think there are very few people who don't give thanks to god (in some form) for the freedoms and bounty of the U.S. and their ability to enjoy those freedoms and bounty. That's true for recent immigrants as well as descendents of immigrants. And that's the flip side of the coin of pondering the genius of the legal machinery that makes that possible. So, ya know, it's a pretty good idea to take a day off and ponder both.

On the other hand, the Pilgrims were deeply religious people. They probably would have seen god's handiwork in everything -- but they couldn't have imagined what was to come, i.e. Declaration of Independece, Revolutionary War, Constitution, etc. etc.

So, you can probably skip everything beyond the Pilgrims in giving thanks and just focus on them or you can give thanks for America as it now is...that's probably a private choice.

[endthematrix]

I've never seen anything the Native Americans like about Thanksgiving. Why after years, has history taught that the first settlers and Native Americans had a rosy wonderful relations and sat down to a bountiful feast? In regards to whether it is a civil OR religious Holiday? It is both they are not mutually exclusive. Calling religious is sketchy since it isn't based on anything in the bible. It is rooted in prayer though.

[F16Fighter]

What exactly are you getting at?

As to the significance of the date -- Novemeber 25, and the day, of "Thanksgiving," the die is cast.

It's tradition, legacy and meaning as an American Holiday is non-negotiable.

If you choose to ignore the significance, nobody will hold a gun to your head and FORCE you to.

[durasell]

I think it's probably safe to assume that Native Americans weren't thrilled with what came later. Also, and I'm not an expert, but I remember reading that they had a corresponding feast in their religion.

[durasell]

I didn't write that.

[pandemoniumreigns]

I think that it is in their ignorance of the future that they show us the power of their faith.