With Halloween in the rear view and Thanksgiving fast approaching, thoughts of Christmas seem to be on the minds of many while Thanksgiving gets passed over in a blink of an eye.

Even though the commotion around Christmas cannot be ignored through the countless decorations and advertisements that appear months before on TV or in stores, this should not give people any reason not to celebrate Thanksgiving first before heading into the next holiday season.

While Christmas is quite the exciting holiday, as a culture, we must acknowledge the fact that it does not come until almost a month later and the reality is not everyone even celebrates it, depending upon a person’s religious and cultural background, whereas Thanksgiving is a national holiday that celebrates both gratefulness and thankfulness.

Families and friends of all types of cultures, religions and ethnicities leave their differences aside to gather around and celebrate Thanksgiving without worrying about many major things such as gifts and decoration, instead a non-proscribed meal is the bases of the celebration.

One of the most unique things about Thanksgiving is that it is celebrated differently by each person. Although many families stick with a traditional turkey, it is not unheard of for families to order in, go out for a fancy dinner or watch a movie while chowing down on the popcorn. No judgement is passed about how one celebrates because for most, the day allows for a seemingly rare opportunity to gather around and share the company of those they care about most in the busy life styles most lead today.

Why then is Thanksgiving looked over? If Halloween can claim the month of October and Christmas claims the month of December, it only seems right that Thanksgiving deserves the month of November.

So, I encourage you take the month of November to relax and celebrate Thanksgiving and the blessings in life, instead leave the festivities of Christmas until afterwards.