Thanksgiving puts many pagans in a dilemma with celebrating Thanksgiving, but Thanksgiving is about giving thanks, which is what we do in our holidays. Thanksgiving is one of the few times of the year that most families come together, so why not be with your family and share in your thanks? Additionally, you can add a pagan twist to your Thanksgiving.
Thanksgiving involves a lot of harvest symbols that a pagan can put to use for Thanksgiving. I normally keep around what I call a "Jar of Plenty," which can be recharged at Thanksgiving.
Jar of Plenty
Fill a see-through jar with dried beans of any kind you have on hand. After you have filled and closed the jar hold it in your hands and chant:
Jar of Plenty
I bless thee
To fill our home
With money and prosperity.
While holding the jar and chanting envision a green light infusing the jar of beans and being able to pay for the things you need or want. Place the jar somewhere visible in your home as a decoration. Recharge the jar as needed; every full moon would be advisable, and I make sure to recharge them every Thanksgiving after thanking them for the prosperity over the last year. During the thanksgiving season I ad them to my altar for two reasons; the purpose of giving thanks and a reminder of what I have been blessed with and to help recharge them.
Additionally, there is also symbolism in Thanksgiving food:
Turkey sympbolizes Mother Earth and shared Harvest
Apples symbolize rebirth, healing, and youth.
Pumpkins symbolize personalized power and the Sun.
So even though Thanksgiving is not a Pagan holiday per say, we can take a put a Pagan twist on it and enjoy time with our friends and family. Additionally, being thankful is something we need to do every day, not just on holidays.
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