OPINION: Please don’t skip out on Thanksgiving

From early October until the start of November, most houses are covered in spider webs, skeletons and carved-out pumpkins. But as Halloween comes to an end, houses transform into Christmas wonderlands overnight. By Nov. 1, everyone is in Christmas mode, neglecting the excitement and celebration of Thanksgiving.

Although the enthusiasm over the holidays is great, the Christmas spirit trumps the excitement surrounding Thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving is a national American  holiday, and it deserves more recognition. The celebration for the holiday is not as big as the celebration for holidays following it. But, that doesn’t mean people should decorate for the following holidays early. To do so means they are forgetting about the delight that comes with a hot plate of turkey and mashed potatoes.

In a poll of 50 students, 26 percent said that their Christmas celebration starts the same day Halloween ends. However, Thanksgiving is important and should not be skipped over.

Thanksgiving is a holiday all Americans can bond over. It is about our nation’s history. When the Pilgrims landed in New England, they befriended the Native American tribe leader, Squanto, who taught them to harvest crops. This celebration of American pride, along with delicious food and time spent with family, is worth holding back the Christmas celebrations for just a few more weeks.

Even the media begins giving attention to Christmas at the start of November. Radio stations turn to holiday music, and Hallmark’s Countdown to Christmas has already started premiering as early as Oct. 27.

While some students agree that Thanksgiving deserves its own celebration, others believe that there is no such thing as celebrating the holidays too early.

“Even though I love Thanksgiving, I think Christmas is so great,” junior Marisa Lotito said. “It should be celebrated all year round.”

“Right from Halloween everyone thinks of Christmas instead of Thanksgiving,” junior Adem Kalici said. “People should celebrate Thanksgiving too!”

Watching the parade and stuffing your face with food should be just as eventful as hanging lights and lighting candles.

60 percent of students agree that Thanksgiving is overlooked, and deserves more recognition. A holiday spent with family where you can eat apple pie is great.

“Christmas is so fun to celebrate, but Thanksgiving deserves celebration too,” sophomore Laura Knodel said. “We have to give thanks for everything good in our lives.”