Thanksgiving-Good or bad

Happy Sabbath,

How is it November already? Seems like we were just observing the Spring festivals not too long ago.

Thanksgiving is coming up. Many say this holiday is ok, one we can observe. Others say it's based in paganism and something we shouldn't be observing. Others will say, it represents the oppression of the Indians and we shouldn't observe it.

What does history say?

The pilgrims were deeply religious. They had fled England to Holland to flee religious persecution in 1607. During this time in Holland, they lived among another exiled group-Sephardic Jews.

When the pilgrims looked for a way to give thanks, they looked to the bible. Sukkot/Feast of Tabernacles is one of the pilgrimage festivals and it is a feast of lots of food.

The Feast of Tabernacles and Thanksgiving have a lot in common-

Both take place in the fall.

Both are about pilgrims! The early Christian immigrants of America were later known as pilgrims, much as the Jewish people used to make pilgrimage to Jerusalem three times a year for the holy holidays.

Both began with people groups who were persecuted and had to flee.

Both require harvesting and joyous gathering.

Both are based on the Biblical exhortation to express gratitude. Sukkot is regarded as a model for Thanksgiving.

Both celebrations are centered on expressing appreciation for a plentiful harvest.

Both are centered on family and communal gatherings.

Both feature an abundance of food and feasting!

Our family used to travel to the Twin Cities the Friday after Thanksgiving. Usually, there was usuallly aroound 30 of us that woould get together. One year, I was talking to one of the moms who homeschooled. She told me that she had a set of encylopedias that stated that the 1st Thanksgivinng was during the Feast of Tabernacles. I thought it was rather interesting that it was in a encycloipedia She was going to send a picture of the page to me but never did.

What do you think? Thanksgiving is a time for family. To give thanks and be thankful we have each other.

Until next time,

Lori

Here is the web page I partially referenced - https://www.biblejournalclasses.com/blog/thanksgiving-and-the-feast-of-tabernacles-2