Thanksgiving Day
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Thanksgiving Day
Do you think people nowadays appreciate and values the things that they have? I know I do. Centuries ago, Pilgrims and Indians celebrated Thanksgiving by having a feast. They thanked because of the successful harvest and having bountiful food around them. Today, people are indifferent about the little things that they own. The story “Giving Tanks” by Darrell H.Y. Lum tells us about how this boy celebrates thanksgiving without knowing the events importance. He doesnt understand the value of being thankful and doesnt realize that all things, fancy or simple, have to be appreciated. In todays generation, we often take our possessions for granted, knowing that we can buy or get it without hard work. This paper will evaluate the main characters of the story, and the symbols that represent thanksgiving.
The boy, who is the protagonist and the narrator of the story, shows what he did during Thanksgiving Day. In school, he learned “about da Pilgrims and all dat.” He also said, “Das when the Indians and the Pilgrims went get toggeda, Eat turkey or something.” This shows that he was clueless about what it represents. He was just doing what he was told to do. Also, when they were doing an activity in school the boy stated that, “I couldnt see how if da leaves turn color, was pretty. For us, dat jes means dat da tree going die, or maybe stay dead already.” He does not comprehend how the trees leaves change to brown and orange because Hawaii has no autumn season. He thought that the colors symbolize the trees death, just like when he rakes the dead leaves on the ground from his lychee tree.
When he went to his Aunties house, the Thanksgiving was very extravagant. He explains this when he said, “Her kitchen had real cloth kine tablecloth, not the plastic kine on top and she no put sheets on top of her couch and had any kine knitted stuff, like those hat things that cover the extra toilet paper on top da toilet tank.” They also have a lot of lavish things from different places all around the world. He was kind of ignorant of how to use the things that his auntie has. This celebration was different for him compared to how he used to celebrate this day. He was astonished with what he saw because this was a new thing for him.
While the boys Auntie had a lavish feast, his grandma had a simple one. He said, “Ah Po told me one time, dat real Thanksgiving stay everyday. Das why everyday she pray for my grandfahdah. She burn incense and pour tea and whiskey for him outside the porch.” His grandmother is always thankful in each day and cherishes life in a simple way. The boy stated that, “Every time get sale, she go buy one bag rice. Could tell she felt rich when she had one bag rice extra in the closet. And toilet paper. Lots of toilet paper. And Spam and Vienna sausages and Campbells soup and can corned beef.” His grandmother is contented with what she has and values the ordinary things that she owns.
His grandma always tells him how lucky he is. She always says things like, “Lucky da ice cream man come.” “Lucky you get lee-see to spend. Lucky. Lucky you come visit Ah Po.” She gives significance about luckiness and tries to put that in her grandsons head. Not all people are lucky; some are homeless, some doesnt have anything to eat, and some doesnt even have family or friends. Theyve got nothing to cherish but themselves. For me, I think thats what his grandma is trying to tell him. Even though theres