Giving Thanks: Celebrating Thanksgiving Traditions

Wishing everyone a Happy Thanksgiving from Charles IT!

This week, we’re pausing our regular IT and cybersecurity discussions to celebrate the holiday season. That’s because we’re especially grateful for our incredible team, loyal clients, and the opportunity to help businesses stay secure with confidence. Here’s a peek at what we’re up to this Thanksgiving week at Charles IT!

Turkeys for Everyone!

Each year, Charles IT provides every employee with a free turkey to enjoy at their Thanksgiving celebrations! This year the fresh turkeys came from Miller Farms in Avon. Since the turkey is arguably the star of the Thanksgiving feast, we’re happy to make this holiday tradition a little easier for our team.

But Why Turkey?

Did you know that turkey wasn’t even a main part of the first Thanksgiving back in 1621. According to a letter written by a colonist named Edward Winslow to a friend in England, the colonists actually hunted “fowl” for their three-day feast with the Wampanoag tribe. That means it could have been goose or duck and not necessarily turkey that they all ate. The Wampanoag tribe also provided five deer for the meal so you could say that deer was the main source of protein anyway.

However, annual harvest dinners did continue after 1621, where turkey played more of a role. That’s because turkeys are not only native to Plymouth, Massachusetts, where the first Thanksgiving took place, but they are also abundant there. That made them a practical choice for feeding large groups due to their size compared to smaller chickens, ducks, and geese. Unlike those animals, turkeys also didn’t produce milk or edible eggs, so homesteaders found it sensible to use them for their substantial meat instead. And if you’re wondering why we wrote “annual harvest dinners” instead of Thanksgiving, well that 1621 gathering wasn’t officially called the first Thanksgiving until 200 years after it happened.

In fact, Thanksgiving wasn’t proclaimed a national holiday until President Lincoln did so in 1863 after a magazine writer/ editor named Sarah Josepha Hale lobbied for it… presumedly because she was publishing turkey recipes in her magazine. Before that it was just an unofficial New England celebration so you can thank Sarah for that day off.

Gratitude is Good for You

While turkey and all the side dishes are a fun part of the holiday, Thanksgiving is, of course, about being thankful for all the good things in our lives. Whether you have big or small things to be appreciative for this year, it’s important to express gratitude not only on Thanksgiving but every day. That’s because gratitude is truly good for your health. Studies have shown that it can reduce depression, lessen anxiety, support heart health, improve sleep, and relieve stress.

If practicing gratitude feels challenging, don’t worry! There are easy habits, per Calm, that you can adopt to cultivate a grateful mindset

• Be present: Take time to savor experiences and appreciate life’s little moments.
• Try meditation or yoga: Focus on practices that emphasize gratitude to center your thoughts.
• Keep a gratitude journal: Write down a few things you’re thankful for each day.
• Appreciate the small joys: Notice simple pleasures, like a sunny morning or a warm cup of coffee.
• Reframe your words: Shift your language to be more positive and gratitude-focused.
• Show appreciation: Share your gratitude with others through kind words and thoughtful gestures.

What We’re Thankful for at Charles IT

At Charles IT, we have a lot to be grateful for, so we wanted to highlight some heartfelt and fun responses to the question, “What are you thankful for?”

“I’m thankful for all the friendships I made at Charles IT.” – Sal Marino

“I’m thankful for having a family that supports me in pursuing my passion for horses. And chefs because I don’t like cooking.” – Betta Greenberg

“I’m thankful for the opportunity to be asked the question ‘what am I thankful for’ because not everyone has that opportunity.” – Jack Ardrey

“I’m thankful for Christmas ham, and my cats Miso and Mushroom.” – Julia Lebert

“I’m thankful for my son.” Caitlyn Raftery

“I’m thankful for my family and my dog.” – Mark Waters

“I’m thankful for Trader Joe’s.” – Scarlette Smalley

“I’m thankful for that crackle sound when you get a good vacuum in… and my dog.” – Spencer Fletcher

“I’m thankful for my family.” – Olga Maxwell

“I’m thankful for clean drinking water with fluoride in it.” – Isaiah Chamis

“I’m thankful for my health and for the ability to walk to work every day.” – Paige Daly

“I’m thankful for my downstairs neighbor.” – Devin Bazar

“I’m thankful for my wife and daughter.” – Jeff Zapatka

Wrapping Up

We know you’re likely busy getting ready for guests or perfecting your side dishes, so we’ll keep this brief. We’re incredibly grateful for our blog readers and our amazing Charles IT community. Thank you for taking time out of your day to read this and enjoy the rest of your holiday!

If you’d like to chat with Charles IT about IT or cybersecurity solutions, click the button below to schedule a meeting with us!

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