As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to strip away any illusions we have about our interconnectedness—between us and other people, the planet, and pretty much all life as we know it—this is the perfect time to tap into the roots of the commercial holidays we celebrate today. Take, for example, Thanksgiving.

In modern times, Thanksgiving is associated with family gatherings, watching football, Macy’s Day Parade floats, and eating lots of food (including turkeys . . . without their consent). If asked about the reason for this celebration, most folks raised in the United States hearken to a generic story taught in public schools regarding a shared meal between the Pilgrims and the American Indians.

However, as we peel back the narrative that we’re told about this holiday, it becomes important to more accurately honor its origins. Even after a cursory Internet search, one learns that History.com acknowledges the following (after which it provides links to several other articles regarding the Colonists and commercial exploits of Thanksgiving):

Thanksgiving, which occurs on the fourth Thursday in November, is based on the colonial Pilgrims’ 1621 harvest meal. The holiday continues to be a day for Americans to gather for a day of feasting, football and family.

USHistory.org offers a more detailed account, as in how it relates to William Bradford (the statement below is but a snippet from this website):

By autumn of 1621, the Pilgrims had much for which to be thankful. After the harvest, [Chief] Massasoit and about ninety other Indians joined the Pilgrims for the great English tradition of HARVEST FESTIVAL. 

But more scintillating, informative, and meaningful still is the content shared by DoSomething.org, a digital platform powering real-world impact. Its article, under the title “Truthsgiving: The True History of Thanksgiving”, discusses perspectives of this holiday as recognized by the Native Americans (meaning, those stories not taught in U.S. schools), the implications of these perspectives, and how you can support Native communities during Thanksgiving and beyond:

The “first Thanksgiving,” as a lot of folks understand it, was in 1621 between the Pilgrims of Plymouth Colony and the Wampanoag* tribe in present-day Massachusetts. While records indicate that this celebration did happen, there are a few misconceptions we need to clear up. [ . . . ] So here’s the full story.

I highly recommend you to explore this notion of “Truthsgiving” (beginning with the above DoSomething.org article) as you count your blessings near the end of this turbulent year. And with that note . . .

. . . my literary, theatrical, interpersonal, familial, occupational, and international endeavors—amongst others—would not be possible or as fulfilling without the support of my wife, Lexie. Each and every day I spend with her is a gift, as she is the keel that keeps my vessel even. For her, as well as our daughter, our families, friends, and Ferdinand (our rabbit companion), I give thanks. Furthermore, I extend gratitude to our health, our teachers past and present, our privileges, employment, and cozy apartment.

As you reflect on your own life’s blessings, for what do you give thanks?

On a writer’s note, I am thankful for the opportunity to have recently submitted an original tale, crafted specifically for the Horror Writer Association’s upcoming anthology, Other Fears. This collection of stories will “[revolve] around a recurring theme that often comes up in both critical analysis of the horror genre and discussions about the prejudices and biases people have against minority groups that manifest in myriad phobias: the idea of ‘otherness’.”

In keeping with the theme of this project, my submission touches upon the discrimination, disparities, and death experienced by people of color in the United States—historically and today. And I am proud to display the “Black Lives Matter” square on my website. When I learn the fate of my submission, I shall share more.

In the meantime, count your blessings, and keep on reading!

Yours in R’yleh,

Tony LaMalfa