Quakers have a reputation for not celebrating religious holidays. The Quaker.org website explains why: “From a theological standpoint, Quakers don’t buy into the notion of religious holidays; every day is a holy day.”
On their website Colonial Quills said “The Quakers believed… that they should not set one day ahead of any other. In essence, they believed that every day was Thanksgiving.”
And maybe Thanksgiving, the focus of this month for many, would be the best holiday to apply the Quaker mindset to.
Psychologists tell us that being mindful every day of all those things we have to be grateful for will make us happier. And focusing on what we have makes us focus less on what we don’t have. That’s got to be a good thing for helping us live the Quaker testimony of simplicity.
If we take a moment every day to appreciate all that nature has given us, and the beauty that it provides, wouldn’t that help us remember to protect the natural world, the goal of the testimony of stewardship?
While it might be difficult to invite the whole family over for a fancy dinner every day, it isn’t hard – and can be extremely beneficial – to apply the Quaker attitude about holidays to Thanksgiving.
Every day is a holy day. Every day is a cause for giving thanks.
Peachtree Friends Meeting 