FEATURE
THE TURKEY PARDON The President of the United States receives a live Turkey each year and an alternate turkey if in case anything happens to the original turkey. Then the President pardons the turkey and all the other turkeys so that they can live the rest of their lives on a farm. GIVING AND SHARING Most of the people take this opportunity to help out the less fortunate. They volunteer at the homeless shelter and serve food while the others donate to the homeless shelter. Some people even donate canned food to the homeless in the canned food drives. This holiday truly means giving and sharing with others. This tells us that the main purpose of Thanksgiving is to actually give and share.
VEGETARIAN FOODS Some families choose to serve a
vegetarian dinner instead of a turkey dinner. Few of the families serve a vegetarian turkey made out of tofu. Some really vegetarian families decide to celebrate this holiday with squash, salads, fruits, and other vegetables. Thanksgiving is a cultural safety valve: for one day a year, we forget our rivalries and personal striving, and our political and religious strife. For one day a year we come together with those we care about deeply, look them in the eye, and say “I am happy to be alive, and I am glad to share my life with you”. The turkey and traditional foods, the clothes, the parades and the pardons, are all rituals, but at heart there lies a simple message: it is time to reconnect with those you care about, and be thankful for their presence in your life. For one day, we are expected to set aside our feuding identities and egos, and to spend time with those who are closest to us, to reconnect and to celebrate our shared lives. That one day reminds us of our shared humanity, and as such is a vital part of our nation. That is why we celebrate it so hard: it gives us permission to be fully human again, and to embrace the deep connections that are the core of our shared humanity. EC
62 EC Magazines | Fall Edition 2021
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