After Halloween ends, it seems that everyone’s thoughts immediately shift to Christmas. Even though Thanksgiving is often an overlooked holiday, it is still a very important time to slow down and praise the Lord for all that He has given us.

Students, like Hailey Boutwell, sophomore, have exciting Thanksgiving plans in store.

“I’m going to Alabama to visit my family, I don’t get to see them a lot so it’s definitely a good time to visit and be with them”.

“I’m going to Lake Havasu,” said Cami Hales, sophomore, “We go boating and jet skiing… I don’t really have a least favorite part of Thanksgiving”.

Thanksgiving also puts a strain on airports, for 39 million families are expected to travel during the holiday this year. Wesley Gaspar, sophomore, though, doesn’t plan on traveling,

“I’m just going to stay in the house and play Fall Out 4. Maybe we’ll go out on Black Friday and buy a few things”.

The most anticipated event, though, is by far the Thanksgiving feast. This feast has definitely evolved since the first Thanksgiving, where pilgrims ate wild goose, duck, or turkey, deer, flint corn, fish, shellfish, and eel! Typically today’s menu includes stuffing, cranberry sauce, gravy, and corn.

“We eat a big turkey, mashed potatoes, and drink eggnog,” said Mirrorajah Metcalfe, freshman, “I love eating a big dinner with my family. They come from Boston, Georgia, Florida, California, everywhere”.

While students get Thanksgiving break to relax, farmers have to work overtime. In the U.S. alone, farmers have produced 240 million turkeys, 9 million barrels of cranberries, 1 billion pounds of pumpkins, and 1.9 million pounds of butter. This preparation makes our Thanksgiving meals possible, considering that 51,150,000 turkeys are expected to be eaten that day.

Thanksgiving is a great holiday for food, family, and thankfulness, but most students’ favorite holiday continues to be Christmas. When The Harris Poll asked 2,462 Americans to choose their favorite holiday, Christmas came out on top followed by Thanksgiving, Halloween, and Fourth of July.

Hales shared what makes Christmas the cheeriest time of year.

“Christmas is my favorite because of all the baking. My family gets together and we bake pies and cookies”.

“It’s so jolly, and you get to sing Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,” said Metcalfe.

Boutwell makes sure to focus on the real reason behind Christmas, as well as appreciate the holiday atmosphere.

“I love celebrating Jesus… and the decorations. It’s just a happy time”.

Whatever your favorite holiday, make sure to appreciate God’s blessings to you. Thanksgiving, as well as Christmas, are times to focus on all the blessings that we have. Be sure to give thanks and spend time with family and friends.