It is always upsetting when a holiday's original purpose is completely lost. It's even more upsetting when the purpose is twisted into the polar opposite of its original intent.
When Lincoln decided to adopt the tradition into a national holiday, Lincoln said:
History is clear that the holiday's intent had very little to do with turkey. But the gluttonous binging of food was not enough for the twisted progression of Thanksgiving. Instead, it has now grown to doorbuster deals on Black Friday--waking up at 3AM to purchase things you don't need has become the highlight of the weekend for some people, overshadowing the previous day completely. The overindulgence has become commercialized in a society where consumerism has become a religion.
I have to admit that I did not fast this Thanksgiving, lest I condemn myself into hypocrisy. I figured it was just one day, and that the Church Fathers didn't foresee a national holiday of turkey-eating. But I missed the point completely--the original purpose of this day was not to give thanks by indulgence. Indeed, even before Lincoln, the Pilgrims did not at all envision a Thanksgiving as an all-you-can-eat buffet. Instead, it originated as a gathering in the Lord's name for prayer and fasting. Thus, while many Orthodox Christians may cringe when the calendar calls for fasting a day before turkey day, it is actually the perfect start to a season of humble thanksgiving.
When Lincoln decided to adopt the tradition into a national holiday, Lincoln said:
No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy. It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and voice by the whole American people.
--Proclamation of Abraham Lincoln (October 3, 1863)
History is clear that the holiday's intent had very little to do with turkey. But the gluttonous binging of food was not enough for the twisted progression of Thanksgiving. Instead, it has now grown to doorbuster deals on Black Friday--waking up at 3AM to purchase things you don't need has become the highlight of the weekend for some people, overshadowing the previous day completely. The overindulgence has become commercialized in a society where consumerism has become a religion.
I have to admit that I did not fast this Thanksgiving, lest I condemn myself into hypocrisy. I figured it was just one day, and that the Church Fathers didn't foresee a national holiday of turkey-eating. But I missed the point completely--the original purpose of this day was not to give thanks by indulgence. Indeed, even before Lincoln, the Pilgrims did not at all envision a Thanksgiving as an all-you-can-eat buffet. Instead, it originated as a gathering in the Lord's name for prayer and fasting. Thus, while many Orthodox Christians may cringe when the calendar calls for fasting a day before turkey day, it is actually the perfect start to a season of humble thanksgiving.
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