Thanksgiving and Halloween...the similiarities?

Thanksgiving talk at Thanksgiving.info
User avatar
DemonSlayerMau
Halloween Master
Posts: 1015
Joined: Wed Aug 20, 2008 9:27 pm
What is the highest number?: 9
Location: Out scaring people!
Contact:

Thanksgiving and Halloween...the similiarities?

Post by DemonSlayerMau » Mon Nov 17, 2008 12:29 pm

What the heck are you talking about this time Mau? What's Thanksgiving got to do with Halloween? There are actually a few similiarities I'd like to point out, which I think everyone just might agree on.
Pumpkins. This is really the big one here. Both holidays associate with pumpkins. An uncarved pumpkin symbolyzes the harvest season, and both Halloween and Thanksgiving take place during said season. True, you tend to do different things with the pumpkins on said holidays, but any uncarved pumpkin decorations that you had out during halloween can be left out for thanksgiving.
And as I mentioned before, the harvest season, and fall. Both holidays can be associated with the beautiful fall leaves and fall season. Granted, usually by November it does start to snow, but usually at thanksgiving, we're thinking of indian corn, dried up corn decorations and possibly scare crows and of course beautiful fall leaves. These are also appropriate for Halloween. :3
These holidays are also less than a month apart. And, if you weren't pranked or tricked on halloween, that can be one of the things to be thankful for on Thanksgiving!
And...both can associate with something dead and scary. Can I say headless turkey? :3
Thanksgiving in a way could be a nice hybrid of Halloween and Christmas. With thanksgiving you still have the "fall and autumn" feel, but with the association of family gathering and big feasts that Christmas brings.
True, thanksgiving isn't a scary holiday like Halloween is. It's more family oriented. But there are some familiar simiarities that I thought could be brought up for us fans of Halloween that are already missing it, let's just say that a piece of halloween does exist within thanksgiving!
This probably seems crazy, crazy, a graveyard theory,
A ghost tried to approach me and got leery.
Ask him a question and he vanished in a second...

~ From a Ghost's Pumpkin Soup (Pumpkin Hill zone theme Song from Sonic Adventure 2) ~

User avatar
Pumpkin_Man
Halloween Master
Posts: 6767
Joined: Mon Sep 15, 2008 12:23 pm

Re: Thanksgiving and Halloween...the similiarities?

Post by Pumpkin_Man » Mon Nov 17, 2008 2:56 pm

I'll say one thing for sure. I had an aunt who made THE BEST home-make Pumpkin Pie I ever ate. And every Thanksgiving, I allways have an uncarved pumpkin on my table as a centerpiece. I put in an apple, a couple ears of indian corn and some nuts in the shells as a decoration.

There are some people who dress up like the pilgrims on Thanksgiving, and Thanksgiving is as well known for other deserts as it is for turkey and Pumpkin Pie. In our family the favorite desert are Crispie Cookies, while others like to have cake and other kinds of pies. So we do have "treats" on Thanksgiving, but without the "tricks."

Mike

sueluvshalloween
Haunt Master
Posts: 321
Joined: Mon Oct 19, 2009 6:09 pm
What is the highest number?: 10992
Location: The Woodlands, Texas

Re: Thanksgiving and Halloween...the similiarities?

Post by sueluvshalloween » Wed Nov 04, 2009 11:03 am

Thanksgiving is almost like Halloween -- minus the spooky, scary factor. I leave my Halloween decorations up until the day after Thanksgiving, except for the tombstones, skeletons, bats, webs, skulls, fake body parts, etc. Pumpkins and scarecrows work for both holidays. The colors are the same, they both occur during the same season with similar weather and changing/falling leaves.

User avatar
adrian
Halloween Master
Posts: 6231
Joined: Fri Oct 17, 2008 9:55 pm
What is the highest number?: 10992
Location: Buice Manor in Beulah AL

Re: Thanksgiving and Halloween...the similiarities?

Post by adrian » Wed Nov 04, 2009 11:17 am

sueluvshalloween wrote:Thanksgiving is almost like Halloween -- minus the spooky, scary factor. I leave my Halloween decorations up until the day after Thanksgiving, except for the tombstones, skeletons, bats, webs, skulls, fake body parts, etc. Pumpkins and scarecrows work for both holidays. The colors are the same, they both occur during the same season with similar weather and changing/falling leaves.

same here except we buy new un carved pumpkins :)
Last night 'twas witching Hallowe'en
Dearest; an apple russet- brown
I pared, and thrice above my crown
Whirled the long skin; they watched in keen;
I flung it far; they laughed and cried me shame
Dearest, there lay the letter of your name!

User avatar
Belladonna
Halloween Master
Posts: 4541
Joined: Fri Sep 25, 2009 9:01 pm
What is the highest number?: 10992
Location: Dancing by the fire

Re: Thanksgiving and Halloween...the similiarities?

Post by Belladonna » Wed Nov 04, 2009 1:32 pm

I keep pumpkins, Indian corn and gourds out through Thanksgiving.
I only take down the spookier element. It's comforting to still have the pumpkins around after Halloween is gone.
"The woods are lovely, dark and deep, and I have promises to keep and miles to go before I sleep. Did you hear me butterfly? Miles to go before you sleep."



Image

Murfreesboro
Halloween Master
Posts: 5852
Joined: Fri Sep 11, 2009 9:56 am
What is the highest number?: 10992

Re: Thanksgiving and Halloween...the similiarities?

Post by Murfreesboro » Wed Nov 04, 2009 2:19 pm

i actually carve a pumpkin for my centerpiece on Thanksgiving. I have one of those Pumpkinmaster stencils of a turkey, a wonderful one, and I xerox it every year and carve my last pumpkin while my turkey is baking. So my centerpiece is a jack-o-lantern of sorts.

As for decorations, I leave up my scarecrows and my uncarved pumpkins throughout November; then, the day after Thanksgiving, I try to get the yard and house decorated for Christmas (sometimes I miss the mark).

I don't have so many Thanksgiving decorations, but I do have a wooden turkey door hanging as well as a couple of statuettes of a pilgrim man & woman.

As a child, I thought Thanksgiving was pretty dull in comparison with Halloween & Christmas. As an adult, I appreciate it more. A few years ago I got into the symbolism of the traditional meal. A friend of mine who is an anthropologist told me that everything on the table, in a traditional feast, is from the New World--turkey, cranberries, potatoes (both white & sweet), cranberries, pumpkins, green beans, corn. I got into that. Now I purposefully try to make my Christmas feast different. Turkey for Thanksgiving, but maybe roast chickens for Christmas. Sweet potato & green bean casseroles for Thanksgiving, but broccoli & rice casserole for Christmas. That sort of thing.
Last edited by Murfreesboro on Wed Nov 04, 2009 2:24 pm, edited 2 times in total.

User avatar
adrian
Halloween Master
Posts: 6231
Joined: Fri Oct 17, 2008 9:55 pm
What is the highest number?: 10992
Location: Buice Manor in Beulah AL

Re: Thanksgiving and Halloween...the similiarities?

Post by adrian » Wed Nov 04, 2009 2:21 pm

that's pretty cool :) i never thought of carving a thanksgiving pumpkin :) i may wind up doing that
Last night 'twas witching Hallowe'en
Dearest; an apple russet- brown
I pared, and thrice above my crown
Whirled the long skin; they watched in keen;
I flung it far; they laughed and cried me shame
Dearest, there lay the letter of your name!

Murfreesboro
Halloween Master
Posts: 5852
Joined: Fri Sep 11, 2009 9:56 am
What is the highest number?: 10992

Re: Thanksgiving and Halloween...the similiarities?

Post by Murfreesboro » Wed Nov 04, 2009 2:25 pm

You can also hollow out a pumpkin and stuff a small pot of mums into it for a centerpiece. I've seen that in magazines.

User avatar
adrian
Halloween Master
Posts: 6231
Joined: Fri Oct 17, 2008 9:55 pm
What is the highest number?: 10992
Location: Buice Manor in Beulah AL

Re: Thanksgiving and Halloween...the similiarities?

Post by adrian » Wed Nov 04, 2009 2:30 pm

oh cool yea that would work :) maybe carve a face and put an indian cheif head peice on it :) that would be so much fun
Last night 'twas witching Hallowe'en
Dearest; an apple russet- brown
I pared, and thrice above my crown
Whirled the long skin; they watched in keen;
I flung it far; they laughed and cried me shame
Dearest, there lay the letter of your name!

Murfreesboro
Halloween Master
Posts: 5852
Joined: Fri Sep 11, 2009 9:56 am
What is the highest number?: 10992

Re: Thanksgiving and Halloween...the similiarities?

Post by Murfreesboro » Wed Nov 04, 2009 4:53 pm

Another thought: collect a variety of autumn leaves from outside, trace them onto paper, and use them as stencils for your Thanksgiving jack-o-lantern.

But I love your idea of the Indian pumpkin! :lol:

User avatar
witchy
Halloween Master
Posts: 7676
Joined: Fri Jul 06, 2007 3:11 pm
What is the highest number?: 9
Location: Everywhere, on my broom!!

Re: Thanksgiving and Halloween...the similiarities?

Post by witchy » Wed Nov 04, 2009 4:58 pm

Hi Murfreesboro, I love your idea's!! I ll have to try one, maybe the one with the leave cut out all the way around it. I love any idea that involves candles.
Thanks!!1 Witchy
Image

User avatar
Andybev01
Halloween Master
Posts: 12859
Joined: Tue Apr 29, 2008 5:44 pm
What is the highest number?: 9
Location: 42°1′30.48″N 70°41′14.79″W

Re: Thanksgiving and Halloween...the similiarities?

Post by Andybev01 » Wed Nov 04, 2009 5:21 pm

Murfreesboro wrote:You can also hollow out a pumpkin and stuff a small pot of mums into it for a centerpiece. I've seen that in magazines.
I've done that for spinach dip. You get a pumpkin somewhat larger than the bowl that you will put the dip in and carve out the 'kin until the bowl fits into it with the rim of the bowl about 1/2 inch above the cut out.

Fill it with dip and set it on a nice platter with the bread pieces all around it.

You can also use it for soup or gravy or...?
All you that doth my grave pass by,
As you are now so once was I,
As I am now so you must be,
Prepare for death & follow me.

User avatar
witchy
Halloween Master
Posts: 7676
Joined: Fri Jul 06, 2007 3:11 pm
What is the highest number?: 9
Location: Everywhere, on my broom!!

Re: Thanksgiving and Halloween...the similiarities?

Post by witchy » Wed Nov 04, 2009 5:25 pm

Hi Andy, Oooh you gave me an idea, Pumpkin soup bowls!! Cute!! Thanks, Witchy
Image

User avatar
Andybev01
Halloween Master
Posts: 12859
Joined: Tue Apr 29, 2008 5:44 pm
What is the highest number?: 9
Location: 42°1′30.48″N 70°41′14.79″W

Re: Thanksgiving and Halloween...the similiarities?

Post by Andybev01 » Wed Nov 04, 2009 5:27 pm

witchy wrote:Hi Andy, Oooh you gave me an idea, Pumpkin soup bowls!! Cute!! Thanks, Witchy
Ooo...that sounds good right now. I had McD's for lunch and it's sitting in my stomach like a rock!
All you that doth my grave pass by,
As you are now so once was I,
As I am now so you must be,
Prepare for death & follow me.

Murfreesboro
Halloween Master
Posts: 5852
Joined: Fri Sep 11, 2009 9:56 am
What is the highest number?: 10992

Re: Thanksgiving and Halloween...the similiarities?

Post by Murfreesboro » Wed Nov 04, 2009 6:57 pm

witchy wrote:Hi Murfreesboro, I love your idea's!! I ll have to try one, maybe the one with the leave cut out all the way around it. I love any idea that involves candles.
Thanks!!1 Witchy
Glad they sound useful. I love the idea of carving the leaves all the way around.

Post Reply