Giving thanks, appreciation, gratefulness, and words of similar import are synonymous with (and summarized by) a single virtue: gratitude. Derived from the Latin word “gratus” meaning “pleasing or thankful,” its importance was recognized as early as 40 B.C. when the Roman philosopher and orator Marcus Tullius Cicero extolled it as “being the greatest of all the virtues.”
Showing gratitude serves two purposes: first, it shows those who have helped us — either in big ways or small — that we recognize and appreciate what they have done. It’s a way of repaying their generosity with acknowledgment and thanks. Second, it allows us to reflect on the blessings that the heavens have brought unto our lives.
In this regard, of all the American holidays, Thanksgiving happens to be my personal favorite. It’s a time when family and friends come together to be grateful for all that they have, and to strengthen the bonds of family and friendship that have brought them together. It is a simple occasion uncharacterized by expensive gift buying and frantic shopping (at least not until the day after, Black Friday). Just a celebration of good food and gratitude.
Unfortunately, Thanksgiving is not celebrated here — or anywhere else for that matter outside the US and Canada — but perhaps that has something to do with the origins and culture of the holiday.
* * * *
The holiday’s roots can be traced to the year 1620, where the soon-to-be “American” pilgrims left England in the pursuit of a better life and a chance to freely practice their faith in the “New World” landed at Plymouth, Massachusetts. However, upon reaching America, they found themselves in for a nasty surprise. Almost as soon as they had begun establishing their colony, winter was upon them and, not having adequate shelter or provisions, most of the colonists were left with no other choice than to retreat to their ship for protection from the elements. That many people crammed and huddled into so small a space led to scurvy (brought about by malnutrition) and eventual outbreaks of disease. Hence, only about half of the original settlers were able to see spring.
Akin to receiving manna from heaven, they obtained help from the Pawtuxet tribe of Native Americans who taught them how to cultivate corn, catch fish, extract maple from trees, and to avoid poisonous plants.
That November, after a successful autumn harvest, the Governor of the Plymouth colony, William Bradford, invited some of the Native Americans to come and feast with them in celebration of the harvest, as well as in gratitude of all they had taught them — which may very well have saved their lives.
So you see, the history of the holiday makes it very “culture-specific” to the American people and, hence, does not translate universally as well as the other holidays which are more religion-based.
* * * *
Interestingly, although turkey and pies (pumpkin, especially) have become traditional trimmings of the Thanksgiving dinner, historians are in agreement that they were most likely not on the menu at the original feast. The original settlers lacked the ovens necessary to bake a pie, and they most likely dined on venison, quail, corn, and even seafood which were more common staples of their diet.
So where did turkey come in?
Opinions differ between economical and traditional reasons. Some say the turkey became the go-to bird because of its affordability and size. Others say it originated from a harvest-time tradition of eating geese in England which, when the pilgrims arrived in America, was switched to turkey as the latter birds were more commonplace.
* * * *
I also mentioned culture as one possible reason why Thanksgiving has not taken root in our shores. If we compare Americans and Filipinos, one word that perhaps best describes the former is independence while, for the latter, the more appropriate word may be interdependence. Geographically, America is much larger, and that, coupled with their more independent nature, has, in many cases, led to American families being spread out across the country. As a result, there are fewer opportunities for American families to come together and bond — and so occasions, such as Thanksgiving, become necessary, if only to give a reason for everyone to get together.
In the Philippines, however, this is less apparent, as most Filipinos pride themselves on the strength of their family unit. It is not, for example, uncommon to see families convene every Sunday to hear mass followed by a family lunch. Thus, a holiday designed to draw families together — just like Thanksgiving — tends to lose much of its force, if every Sunday, families have a regular sort-of (thanks)giving of their own.
Nevertheless, it is apparent that the value of such a holiday is not completely irrelevant in our society. Most Sunday lunches focus more on inter-personal family bonding, rather than a reflection on life’s many blessings. And in an age of social networking and technological communication, there are those who argue that greater connectivity has come at the cost of greater impersonality. Perhaps, then, a holiday to reflect on what matters most in life (family, loved ones, etc.) is just what we need.
* * * *
Wonder of Wonders: This week’s four centavos are given to all of those who successfully pushed for Puerto Princesa, Palawan’s Underground River being hailed as one of the new seven wonders of the world. Oftentimes, our indifference gets the better of us, and we fail to appreciate what we have until others point it out for us or they are lost. (The Underground River is one of those that we could have easily taken for granted.) Indeed, we should be vigilant in protecting it, lest its beauty be taken away from us.
This brings me back to our original topic of thanks giving. In giving thanks as a nation, we just might find that we truly have so much to be thankful for.
* * * *
“Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all the others.” — Cicero
* * * *
E-mail:deanbautista@yahoo.com