Nola Somerville ’27
EE Staff Writer
The holiday season has always been a time to spend with family, enjoy time off and seasonal festivities; however, it is still important to take a step back and acknowledge the meaning behind some of our favorite traditions, and why we partake in them.
Thanksgiving is historically known as a day to give thanks, as is clearly stated in its name. For many, Thanksgiving is a time to go home, see family, enjoy food and traditions. The true history of Thanksgiving is often masked behind these popular activities, and almost forgotten.
For many, Thanksgiving is a day of mourning. Despite what we were taught in elementary school, the Pilgrims and the Native Americans did not begin a long friendship after they shared a meal; it was the beginning of a darker story, and a marking of colonization and overtaking by the European settlers in America. Thanksgiving represents a tragic loss of life, brought about by European colonization, the truth that starkly contrasts its commercialized retellings, making the true story seem even more daunting and dark then it already is.
Balancing acknowledgement with holiday spirit is a challenge, but Thanksgiving is a time for reflection, truth, and gratefulness.
This holiday season, along with festivities, take time to truly understand why we celebrate a holiday with serious undertones, and make time for family and friends even more. Something we take for granted as a society is our ability to overcome times of darkness with positivity –no matter how daunting it may seem.
Finding space to reach into, to step into that which is uncomfortable, is what Thanksgiving is about, whether it’s seeing a family member you don’t get along with, stress and worries about the holidays, or the effort to include learning into celebration. Make room in your plans for reflection and understanding, and reinvent the holiday for yourself –whatever that may mean.
Mental health takes a toll during the busy times of the year, emotions run high, expectations are above and beyond, and demand is heavier than ever. Making room for things that bring joy in the darker times of year is essential to truly being able to enjoy the holidays. As we approach yet another holiday season, reflection and relaxation are beneficial, essential, and most of all, well deserved. Reinvention doesn’t have to only apply to the bigger things –the smaller ones need care too. So, while thinking about deeper meanings, introspective ideas, and traditions; allow for new beginnings, self-reflection, and of course, holiday spirit.