Thanksgiving: Its Meaning Now and in History

Gabriel Oldfield, Writer & Editor

November 28, 2017

Volume II Issue IV

NEW YORK- Thanksgiving has been an American tradition for centuries, and became an official national holiday during Lincoln’s presidency, but most American homes have the true meaning of Thanksgiving all wrong. For many years now I have observed a shift in American values, leaving holidays empty of meaning celebrated only because tradition dictates that it be celebrated. I am here for one reason alone: to clear up the true meaning of Thanksgiving. First of all, I would like to touch upon the reasons most Americans celebrate Thanksgiving now: the food, family, and overall jolliness of the occasion. These days, people are concerned about their relationships with their families and being merry during the holiday season and have lost sight of the original meaning of Thanksgiving. I am always astounded when I speak on this matter and no one ever has the slightest idea about it.

(Picured above: Martha Stewart's roast turkey with brown sugar glaze).

The true meaning of Thanksgiving is to remember that on November 23, 1644, John Milton published his anti-censorship pamphlet “Areopagitica.” I am aware that Thanksgiving is not always the 23rd of the month, but that’s what made this year’s so special. John Milton worked for years on this publication, only to have it forgotten among the praises of how “moist the bird is this year” and how “Dylan’s reading two grade levels ahead of his class.”