Why Thanksgiving Matters

Two years ago, my wife and I were visiting my family in Italy during Thanksgiving. We had never been out of the U.S. during Thanksgiving, so we didn’t know what to expect. It is known as giorno del ringraziamento (day of thanks) in Italy. Not surprisingly, most Italians know little about our celebration except that turkey is involved. My family did try to accommodate us and my cousin, Caterina made rotello di tacchino, which is a filet of turkey rolled up around cheese and prosciutto pan fried and served in a light sauce. It was heavenly. BUT it wasn’t Thanksgiving……

The interesting thing is, Americans carry Thanksgiving in our collective DNA. It’s an idea that many cultures find odd. For many people around the world, every day is a constant struggle, so taking time off to be “thankful” is a luxury they can’t afford. This simple fact didn’t occur to me until we came back home.

It wasn’t long after we returned from that trip, that the U.S economy began to show signs of weakness. The real estate market was deteriorating and business got tough. As a real estate agent I have had to change brokerages and offices several times since returning. I have watched many agents leave the business and some have even had to file for bankruptcy due to the current economic situation. Here in Kenmore, WA, home sales are at a virtual standstill. Every day, more grim news comes out regarding bank failures, huge government bailouts and turmoil in the Middle East. We are, indeed, living in interesting times.

And you know what? This is why Thanksgiving matters. It matters because it’s simple. It matters because it doesn’t require advertising, corporate marketing or a religious affiliation. It matters because it’s uniquely American. It represents our deepest sense of generosity, unity and hope. And, yes, it’s the turkey, stuffing, ham, sweet potatoes, pumpkin pie and those delicious leftovers……Have a wonderful Thanksgiving.