Thanksgiving
What the Parker community is feeling about Thanksgiving
In 1621, the Plymouth colonists and Wampanoag Native Americans shared an autumn harvest feast that is acknowledged as one of the first Thanksgiving celebrations in the colonies. They ate turkey and gave thanks. While this is the most common story of Thanksgiving, the facts are still widely disputed. Many Wampanoag Native Americans assert that there never was a feast, and that, instead, the day was marked by a treaty forged between the Wampanoag and the Pilgrims.
After the “first Thanksgiving,” colonies and states have documented celebrations similar to modern Thanksgiving. However, it wasn’t until two centuries later, in 1863, in the midst of the Civil War, that President Abraham Lincoln created a national Thanksgiving Day, held the last Thursday of November. It was an effort to, as Lincoln said, “heal the wounds of the nation.” In 1939, during the Great Depression, Franklin D. Roosevelt moved the holiday to the fourth Thursday of November in order to promote retail sales.
Whatever the history, Thanksgiving is now a day for Americans to gather together with their families, be grateful, and eat food. Here is what the Parker community has to say about the holiday.
| What’s your favorite Thanksgiving food? | What’s your favorite Thanksgiving tradition? | What are you grateful for? | What’s your favorite part of the day? | What are you most excited for this Thanksgiving weekend? | |
| Senior Marley Ellis | “My favorite Thanksgiving food is stuffing.” | “I go every year to visit my grandparents to have Thanksgiving with them and my cousins in Miami.” | “My education.” | “If it’s nice enough outside I like going outside to play football with my cousins and brothers. Not real football. We just throw the ball,” Ellis said. | “To see my family and my cousins, because I don’t see them that much.” |
| Upper School History and Social Studies Teacher Kevin Conlon | “Not turkey. Stuffing, I think. No. Candied yams. I had those when I was a kid. Candied yams. And cranberry sauce” | “If you’re in a household that can’t afford to splurge on turkey and all the fixings for the holiday, it [the holiday] can feel somewhat diminished. So to help people who have economic difficulties to get food is a great gift, I think.” Conlon organizes the Thanksgiving food drive each year. | “I’m grateful for my family, my students, and my colleagues.” | “I reconnect with family in Iowa, my in-laws, so that’s always great to do. The whole family is in the same place for a few days. It’s great to get out of Chicago. That’s something we’ve been doing since we’ve had kids. Our oldest is twenty years old.” | “Thanksgiving comes at just the right time. You’re ready for that four day break, to take the time to be with your family. It’s a nice breather.” |
| Security Staff Greg Reames | “I think turkey. Imagine that. I guess I’m a traditionalist.” | “Okay, so I’m not a traditionalist. I don’t really have any family in the area, so I spend my Thanksgiving with friends. That’s sort of my tradition.” | “Both days off, hopefully. I don’t always get that. Usually we have students that are coming back on Friday for athletic practice.” | ||
| JK student Atticus | “Chicken. Cooked eggs.” | “I’m going to my Aunt Kelly’s house.” | “Eating with my whole family,” Atticus said. | ||
| Senior Olivia Levine | “I like corn.” | “I like going around the table and saying what we’re grateful for.” | “I am grateful for my family and my friends.” | “If it’s nice enough outside, I like going outside and playing football with my cousins and brothers.” | “I am most excited for the time to relax and hang out with my family.” |
| JK student Jozi Brandon | “Bananas.” | “Eating.” | “I’m going to go to my grandma’s house.” | “Christmas!” |
