Walking in the Valley A weekly column for those who live and walk in Silicon Valley by Barbara Dahlgren

Thanksgiving customs have changed over the years to adapt to present society. The concept of giving thanks is the same as when the Pilgrims and Indians shared that first celebration of their harvest but other traditions have developed over the years. For example, turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes and pumpkin pie were not the foods served at the first Thanksgiving meal, but they are the custom of today. How did these foods become the norm for the holiday meal? Perhaps it's because most of them are native to North America. And it's almost certain the first Thanksgiving participants didn't digest their food while watching football on T.V., although most men would like us to think it was part of the original celebration.

And most Pilgrims and Indians didn't start their Christmas shopping the day after Thanksgiving, but women might have us think they did, for that, too, has become the custom of our day. The day after Thanksgiving has traditionally become known as the number one shopping day of the year. People stand in lines for hours because stores have "early bird" specials for those arriving at 5, 6, or 7 in the morning. It supposedly has the best sales and the best prices. It's not for wimps, though. The hurrying, the rushing, the standing in long lines, the crowds, the pushing, the shoving…..I hope I didn't hurt anyone!

Yes, the day after Thanksgiving officially opens the Christmas shopping season! City dwellers couldn't identify with bringing a fall harvest in but shopping could cater to the urban masses. To attract customers, large department stores would sponsor grand parades on Thanksgiving Day such as the one Macy's started in the 1930's. In order to give Americans more time to spend money for Christmas, in 1939 President Franklin Roosevelt changed our Thanksgiving date from the last Thursday in November to one week earlier. But our people don't change easily. They rebelled, called this folly "Franksgiving," and continued to celebrate it on the last Thursday in November anyway. If it was good enough for the Pilgrims, it's good enough for us! Roosevelt recanted and in 1941 signed a Congressional bill establishing the fourth Thursday of November as the national holiday of Thanksgiving. So was it written, so was it said, and so it remains today.

Traditions and customs can change but the message can remain the same. There are things we do now that weren't done on the first Thanksgiving. But thank God, the message of "giving thanks" remains the same. So it was in Biblical days as well. Many customs mentioned in the Old Testament were changed in the New Testament. When Jesus Christ became our sacrifice, there was no longer a need to slay a lamb to atone for our sins. But the message of having atonement for our sins remains the same. Thank God that He has made provision for us in that area so the message comes through loud and clear. Jesus died for our sins. (John 3:16)

The day after Thanksgiving traditionally ushers in the Christmas season. Christmas gives us yet another area where customs change but the message needs to remain the same. Without Christ, there is no Christmas. It's interesting to research traditions and customs, where they came from, how they change, and why. But let's not throw the message out just because the customs change.

©November 2001

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