I know many of you won’t agree with what I am about to say, but hear me out.
Thanksgiving is the worst holiday of the year.
Yes, you just read that correctly.
On the fourth Thursday of every November, families come together to celebrate Thanksgiving. However, this is a holiday that often does not live up to its potential.
The Thanksgiving season is loved for its food, entertainment, and shopping event that ends the week. These aspects of the holiday make it unique but do not necessarily make it enjoyable.
The food that fills the table on Thanksgiving is usually made up of turkey, stuffing, and other sides. Since these foods are staples, options are very limited for anyone who does not enjoy the stereotypical meal.
For those who love the food and believe it is the best part of the holiday, the high-risk high-reward nature of the meal can cause a major letdown. Turkey can be dry and flavorless; stuffing can be too wet or too dry; mashed potatoes can be too thin or too chunky, and mac and cheese can completely miss the mark.
Because there are so many variations of the food as well, what is expected may not always be what is given. Cranberries can be made into a hundred different dishes on Thanksgiving Day. For me, canned cranberry jelly is the only acceptable variation, but oftentimes, homemade cranberry sauce greets me at the dinner table.
Additionally, I hate leftovers. Eating the same food for a week can get very old very fast.
Beyond everything that can go wrong will the quality and amount of the food, cooking is a major stressor on Thanksgiving Day. Too many cooks in the kitchen becomes more than just an idiom. The hours of cooking, the multiple grocery store trips, and the hot temperatures inside the house can ruin the day.
However, Thanksgiving is more the just food. It is a day to sit down, relax, and watch a parade or football game with family.
The annual Macy’s Day Parade begins at 9 a.m. and does not end until noon. This very long event can get boring after an hour or two, even when I am super excited to see all the floats and performances.
This year, the Thanksgiving Day football schedule includes three games: Lions versus Packers at 12:30 p.m., Cowboys versus Commanders at 4:30 p.m., and Seahawks versus 49ers at 8:20 p.m. For myself and many other Ravens fans, these games are not super exciting. They also start at common mealtimes, which can be distracting.
Finally, Black Friday has been ruined by online shopping. The energy while standing in line for a store to open has been lost, with many choosing to stay home instead and take advantage of the deals from their computers.
Thanksgiving has so much potential to be great, especially due to its cozy fall atmosphere and fun events. Unfortunately, the holiday season is oftentimes underwhelming and disappointing.