What Does Thanksgiving Stand For?
- Madison Melito
- Nov 16, 2022
- 3 min read
Turkey, cranberry sauce, pumpkin pie. Right away, each of us link these items with Thanksgiving. But why? What do these dishes symbolize and on a grander scale, what does the holiday itself symbolize?
We can all admit to being weary about the history and significance of Thanksgiving. Previously mentioned, we can point out key traditional dishes, and perhaps football and family gatherings with this holiday, but it’s quite obvious that all of the other holidays within the calendar year are understood on a deeper level than Thanksgiving. The historical story involves pilgrims, and maybe Indians, but who can even be sure of that?
Well, I feel like it’s time to finally educate the public about this holiday. While most find the celebration to be heartwarming and fruitful, the factual history behind this holiday is something to be a little less thankful for. Maya Salam, an article publisher in The New York Times describes the false myths and narratives of the holiday in an enticing way:
“Thanksgiving facts and Thanksgiving myths have blended together for years like so much gravy and mashed potatoes and separating them is just as complicated.”
To get a few facts straight, Thanksgiving was deemed an official United States’ holiday in November of 1863 by President Lincoln. This was in the midst of the Civil War where the northern and southern states were head to head in an ultimate bloodbath. Native tribes too were at war with the colonists and the federal government. A year prior in 1862, the Dakota-Sioux tribe faced a mass execution by the federal government which resulted in agents keeping food and provisions from the tribe. As a way to fight back, the Dakota members sparked war against the Europeans, resulting in the Dakota War of 1862. The tribe however had no means of winning due to their enemies’ guns and advanced weaponry. In the end, President Lincoln hung 38 Dakota men as a way of punishment.
The tension between the natives as well as the tension between the northern and southern were high for multiple years on end. This left Lincoln feeling defeated. His efforts were causing wars, so as a way to bridge the hard feelings amongst these sides - he established Thanksgiving, focused on gathering, feasts, and community.
Whether Lincoln had good or negative intentions with this opportunity, it resulted in another mass atrocity and European win. This is due to the European plague that was spread across all the native tribes during these holiday celebrations. Native tribes had not faced the illness yet and lacked immunity.
All things considered, the establishment of an “American holiday” was not going to make up for the horrors and atrocities these white settlers put upon the native tribes. In fact, it does the exact opposite. Why would a native individual want to take part in a “holiday” deemed as an “American tradition” on the land they have settled upon for generations? Why would they want to sit around a table with the enemies who murdered their families? A simple meal and creation of a new tradition with people stripping them of their own traditions will not make up for it.
Overall, the holiday has always instilled false narratives. It was created to “patch up” the mass murders of native members by European settlers. It resulted in further mass murders of transporting the plague on native tribes as well. While the holiday consists of many glorious hearty dishes like turkey, potatoes, pie, stuffing, and more, the main dish should just be the cranberry sauce - to accurately represent the bloody massacre associated with such a holiday.
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America celebrates so many traditions routed in immoral beginnings that ultimately depend on the deeply routed white-man dominance. Awareness is better around Christofer Columbus day, but Thanksgiving is less reprimanded. I also find it odd the way academic and other institutions pick and choose which of these holidays to publicly support and which to not. I feel like they're lacking accountability in shining a light on the truth around these histories whether they decide either way.
I love reading articles like this, they really bring me back in touch. I personally forget about what Thanksgiving is really about. The true meaning of Thanksgiving was more talked about when I was much younger but over time, I forget the linkage and importance of this holiday. I think the United States should reevaluate all the holidays and prominent figures of history as we are more aware of all the troubles colonizers put the natives through.
The truth behind the celebration of Thanksgiving is something that always gets lost over time, even though it shouldn't. I remember learning about this in high school but completely forgot about it until reading this article. It's truly sad that it has covered up such a sad and historical event.
We tend to celebrate things that should be mourned. Columbus Day is another example of a genocide that were taught was all rainbows and sunshine where the indigenous people agreed to have things the way they are. It’s super important to educate kids about this because it should never be forgotten.
This history of thanksgiving is super important and something that should be talked about more. I hope that in the future the narrative can transition kind of like how Columbus day has been recognized as a bad reason for a holiday, and Indigenous Peoples Day is a more valuable and necessary day of appreciation. Many people might argue that changing any part of Thanksgiving would be decisive as anyone who is “conservative” would be opposed, but I think it would be a step in the right direction.