Happy Thanksgiving to those who celebrate! Today is a celebration of family, friends, and tradition. 
Over the last decade, many individuals have turned away from the traditional celebration of ‘Thanksgiving’ to celebrate in other ways. People have begun to recognize that the story of a kind, collaborative Thanksgiving between the pilgrims on the Mayflower and the indigenous tribes was nothing more than a myth taught to elementary school children. In fact, the first ‘Thanksgiving’ was likely a celebratory dinner in 1637 following what’s now known as the Pequot Massacre. After killing over 700 men, women, and children of the Pequot Tribe, Governor John Winthrop of the Massachusetts Bay Colony declared the next day would be “a day of thanksgiving and celebration for subduing the Pequots.”
Understandably, many people choose to move away from celebrating a tradition rooted in murder, terror, and racism. Still, the celebration of friends, family, and thanks is not something to completely abandon. Many now celebrate the themes of the season via alternative holidays occurring during the same time.
- The National Day of Mourning is an annual protest held on Thanksgiving Day. Protesters acknowledge the historical and current suffering of Native American people.
- National Day of Listening falls on the day after Thanksgiving. It encourages individuals to broaden their perspective by listening to someone who is a member of a marginalized group.
- Friendsgiving. This is a celebration of friendship and found family; gather those closest to you for a potluck, a traditional holiday meal, or a day of snacks and games.
- Thankskilling. A niche celebration that is growing in popularity on the internet. Many combine it with Friendsgiving. This particular celebration brings awareness to the true story of the ‘first thanksgiving’ while also indulging in fun activities such as watching bad movies. There is a growing selection of bad Thanksgiving movies such as Killer Turkey, ThanksKilling, The McPherson Tape, and more.