When midnight strikes on Nov. 1, the Halloween spirit dies and people get into the Christmas spirit right away. As the pine trees begin to go up and the Christmas tunes begin to play, are students forgetting something?
While this is a positive experience for many, there may be something missing: Thanksgiving.
While Christmas is undoubtedly a joyous and festive time, it's important to pause and reflect on Thanksgiving’s special traditions, making sure it's not forgotten or overlooked by some USC students.
Thanksgiving is a time when families come together, offering a much-needed opportunity to slow down and reconnect. It’s a rare chance to pause, step away from academic pressures and nurture the connections that can sometimes come second during the hustle of daily life.
Many USC students come from out of state, which means they don't always have the chance to see their families as often. For many young adults, college is the first time they experience a significant separation from their immediate family. Being away from home means that these students might miss out on family gatherings, celebrations and other meaningful moments that were once a regular part of their lives.
For many students living away from home, the demands of academic work, extracurricular activities and social obligations leave little time for family. Thanksgiving might be one of the only times of the year these students have the ability to take a break from their busy lives to devote to their families.
While Christmas is focused on giving and receiving gifts, Thanksgiving is centered around gratefulness, making it less superficial. Gratefulness is about acknowledging the good things in life and appreciating them fully. Friends, family, community or even the ability to receive an education can be things one can express they are thankful for.
The unfortunate timing of Thanksgiving places it between two holidays that are both celebrated for several weeks. The day after Halloween, the holiday season shifts into full gear with Christmas music, decorations and advertisements quickly taking over. While this rush to Christmas is understandable, Thanksgiving doesn’t get the attention it deserves because of its placement on the calendar.
The extensive marketing, early decorations and the constant stream of holiday music can overshadow the quiet, reflective spirit of Thanksgiving, leaving it feeling somewhat forgotten amidst the holiday rush.
Thanksgiving provides a rare chance to slow down. Even though some may not have family to spend it with, they can still take this time with their close friends or community members to reflect on what they are grateful for.
Many students may throw a "Friendsgiving" celebration, showing their gratitude for these relationships. This kind of meal can be a mix of traditional dishes and new recipes, often brought by each person in a group. Beyond the food, these gatherings provide an opportunity to reflect on the friendships at the dinner table, creating a special moment for those relationships.
Rather than concentrating on one day, these feelings of gratefulness should last the entire month of November. By making gratitude a daily practice throughout the month, the spirit of Thanksgiving can deepen a sense of appreciation people have for one another.
By jumping straight into Christmas, students and others may be missing the chance to truly enjoy the extent of what Thanksgiving offers. This pause creates a moment of connection that makes Thanksgiving special.
Before diving headfirst into the festivities of Christmas, take a moment to appreciate what makes Thanksgiving so valuable: the opportunity to reflect and be thankful for all that one has.
The next time the clock strikes midnight on Nov. 1, students should remember to embrace the spirit of Thanksgiving.