I can’t help but feel a little disheartened seeing how, the minute Halloween ends, we collectively skip right over Thanksgiving and sprint straight into Christmas. It’s like Thanksgiving décor never even had a chance. Maybe it never even existed in the first place, because the ghouls and goblins took precedence all October, and by the time they clear out, Christmas swoops in immediately. No hay bales. No warm oranges or browns. No turkeys in sight. Where are the cornucopias at?!
Honestly, those colors must feel so betrayed, replaced almost instantly by white, green, and red. And the turkeys? They’re probably relieved to be forgotten … only to be overshadowed by Elf on the Shelf and Santa. A strange trade-off, but still.
What makes me sad is how the spirit of Thanksgiving—gratitude, slowing down, being present, appreciating what we already have—has faded. We’ve started treating Thanksgiving as nothing more than the warm-up act for Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and all the “big shopping events.” But Thanksgiving isn’t a marketing countdown.
Thanksgiving deserves its own moment.
It’s not a pit stop on the way to doorbusters and promo codes. It’s not the pre-game for consumerism. It’s a season of grounding. Of connection. Of reflection. Of remembering what and who we’re grateful for.
And more than anything, our kids deserve to learn that gratitude isn’t transactional. It’s not about getting candy one week and gifts the next. It’s about appreciation, presence, and understanding what truly matters.
And I know … coming from a marketer, this might sound like a strange take.
But actually? It’s the perfect one.
Real marketing is rooted in human emotion, memory, and meaning. It’s the kind that resonates, not manipulates. It’s meaningful and there is nothing more meaningful than gratitude.
So here’s your reminder: Slow down. Let Thanksgiving breathe. Let it be more than a bridge between holidays. Let it stand on its own in the way it was meant to.
Three simple ways Thanksgiving can make a comeback in your home:
1. Bring back the décor.
Let the oranges, browns, hay bales, and turkeys have their moment. Even a simple centerpiece or wreath shifts the tone at home and reminds the kids that this season is its own vibe.
2. Make gratitude a practice, not a paragraph.
Yes, we all grew up with a version of Thanksgiving history that … let’s be honest … wasn’t exactly accurate. As adults, we know the story is more complex than the cheerful school plays ever made it seem. But even with that truth, the symbolism of Thanksgiving—the idea of pausing, gathering, reflecting, and being grateful—still holds real value today. Instead of letting it be reduced to a single “what are you grateful for?” moment on one day of the year, turn gratitude into an everyday practice by telling our children why it’s important to say thank you for all their blessings.
3. Protect the slowness.
Turn off the shopping noise. Delay the Black Friday chatter. Declare Thanksgiving Day a “no deals, no scrolling, no rushing” zone. Let the day breathe so the memory becomes one of connection, not consumption.
And maybe even let the pumpkin spice stay just a little longer … although, peppermint mocha is my absolute fave! Shhh!
