Happy Feast Day, aka "Thanksgiving."
Decades ago, when I was still in church, one of the deacons said that he did not understand why atheists celebrated Thanksgiving. After all, whom were they thanking if not god?
Thanksgiving, like Christmas, has become a secular holiday. It is less about giving thanks and more about eating and Black Friday that follows. Yup, it is time for people to get together, and it is prelude to Xmas.
However, in reply to the issue of "thanks," we can thank the farmers (most likely corporate machines) who grew the corn and thank the turkey ranchers. We can thank our families for putting up with us. We can thank our employers who pay us (and they can thank those of us who are diligent employees). We can thank medical science for our health.
Being thankful does not have to involve an ephemeral being at all. I love Thanksgiving over all the other holidays to tell the truth. There is no greed and crazy shopping involved like Christmas. It is a time, at least for me, to gather with family and sometime friends, to share a meal, share our love, enjoy being alive and maybe remember those who are no longer here. I am thankful that I was lucky enough to be born to loving parents, grew up in a calm world, have extended family who care about me, and relatively good health. Even Atheist have things to be thankful for, we just don’t believe that some puppet master gave us all those things. Just as the religious don’t believe their dear lord creates all the hardships in their lives out of his sense of Sadism.
We should be thankful we have Trump as president and not that crooked idiot Hillary.
@Gwendolyn2018 Sensible Conservative atheist do exist.
Conservatives are an overwhelming majority here in Oklahoma and quite a few are either closet atheist or open atheist. Hell Trump carried 87% of the vote here in Oklahoma and carried all 77 counties by a very good margin.
I express it as gratitude. I am very grateful for the life I have. I don't have to thank a god or goddess to be grateful.
I am thankful for my sister who prepares the whole spread and refuses all offers of assistance.
I am praying (to myself) for will power not to overeat.
We can keep in mind all those working on this day to keep us safe and healthy. I think of all the doctors and nurses on duty at the hospitals all over town, and the families of all those patients, and I hold them in my thoughts. I think of all the police and fire department personnel that are at work today. 911 never take the day off, no do ambulances or rescue helicopters. There are still gas stations open on this day, and hotels and motels. Being Atheist doesn't mean I don't feel gratitude. I am grateful to the universe that I am here and I am as I am. I just don't thank any god or gods.