--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Thanksgiving is so called because we are…" description: "\"Thanksgiving is so called because we are all so thankful that it only comes once a year.\" — P. J. O'Rourke" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/81e/p-j-o-rourke-184_day-after-thanksgivi_thanksgiving-is-so-called-because-we-are_160526.png" --- # Thanksgiving is so called because we are all so thankful… ![“Thanksgiving is so called because we are all so thankful that it only comes once a year.” quote by P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/81e/p-j-o-rourke-184_day-after-thanksgivi_thanksgiving-is-so-called-because-we-are_160526.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/81e/p-j-o-rourke-184_day-after-thanksgivi_thanksgiving-is-so-called-because-we-are_160526.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/81e/p-j-o-rourke-184_day-after-thanksgivi_thanksgiving-is-so-called-because-we-are_160526.png) > “Thanksgiving is so called because we are all so thankful that it only comes once a year.” [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Thanksgiving’s rarity makes us appreciate it more, highlighting gratitude for limited occasions. **In simple terms:** Rare events boost gratitude. Key Takeaway Cherish yearly moments. Themes gratitude celebration scarcity reflection humor Mood playful reflective Type humorous observational When to use this quote - family gatherings - holiday planning - public speeches Key Concepts Cultural tradition social ritual Questions to Reflect On - How does scarcity affect appreciation? - What everyday moments could you celebrate? A Different Perspective May overlook deeper gratitude beyond the holiday. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Called Thankful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/called-thankful-1761281/) [Comes Year](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comes-year-1607854/) [Day after thanksgiving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/day-after-thanksgiving/) [Family thanksgiving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/family-thanksgiving/) [Friends thanksgiving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friends-thanksgiving/) [Funny happy thanksgiving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/funny-happy-thanksgiving/) [Funny thanksgiving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/funny-thanksgiving/) [Funny thanksgiving day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/funny-thanksgiving-day/) [Happy thanksgiving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happy-thanksgiving/) [Happy thanksgiving poems](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happy-thanksgiving-poems/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Inspirational thanksgiving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational-thanksgiving/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Once a year](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/once-a-year/) [Thankful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thankful/) [Thankful Comes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thankful-comes-1761282/) [Thankful for family](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thankful-for-family-185195/) [Thankful thanksgiving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thankful-thanksgiving/) [Thankfulness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thankfulness/) [Thanksgiving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thanksgiving/) [Thanksgiving and family](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thanksgiving-and-family/) [Thanksgiving Called](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thanksgiving-called-1761280/) [Thanksgiving day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thanksgiving-day/) [Thanksgiving family](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thanksgiving-family/) [Thanksgiving funny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thanksgiving-funny/) [Thanksgiving greetings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thanksgiving-greetings/) [Thanksgiving inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thanksgiving-inspirational/) [Thanksgiving thank you](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thanksgiving-thank-you/) [Thanksgiving thankful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thanksgiving-thankful/) [Thanksgiving thanks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thanksgiving-thanks/) [Thanksgiving thoughts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thanksgiving-thoughts/) [Years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/years/) ## Related quotes > [Gratitude can transform common days into thanksgivings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-arthur-ward/gratitude-can-transform-common-days-into-thanksgivings/) [William Arthur Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-arthur-ward/) > [Keeping grounded and keeping focused and keeping calm and thankful, that comes from God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lenny-kravitz/keeping-grounded-and-keeping-focused-and-keeping-calm-and-thankful/) [Lenny Kravitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lenny-kravitz/) > [Today I am thankful for family, friends, and $1 bottles of headache pills.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/today-i-am-thankful-for-family-friends-and-1-bottles-of-headache-pills/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Christmas comes but once a year. But when it comes it brings good cheer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/christmas-comes-but-once-a-year-but-when-it-comes-it-brings-good-cheer/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [At Christmas play and make good cheer, for Christmas comes but once a year.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-tusser/at-christmas-play-and-make-good-cheer-for-christmas-comes-but-once-a/) [Thomas Tusser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-tusser/) > [I think part of the process of putting out a record is always looking back because, by the time a song comes out, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frankie-cosmos/i-think-part-of-the-process-of-putting-out-a-record-is-always-looking/) [Frankie Cosmos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frankie-cosmos/) > [My advice: Take a second out of the day today and be thankful for your family.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenna-morasca/my-advice-take-a-second-out-of-the-day-today-and-be-thankful-for-your/) [Jenna Morasca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenna-morasca/) > [Thanksgiving comes but once a year, But when it comes it brings good cheer. For in my storehouse on this day, Are piles of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/azgraybebly-joslan/thanksgiving-comes-but-once-a-year-but-when-it-comes-it-brings-good/) [Azgraybebly Joslan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/azgraybebly-joslan/) > [No one said life was easy so don't take what you have for granted because you never know when tomorrow will not come for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/no-one-said-life-was-easy-so-don-t-take-what-you-have-for-granted/) [Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/) > [Not what we say about our blessings, but how we use them, is the true measure of our thanksgiving," and the words of John…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-t-purkiser/not-what-we-say-about-our-blessings-but-how-we-use-them-is-the-true-2/) [W. T. Purkiser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-t-purkiser/) > [So once in every year we throng Upon a day apart, to praise the Lord with feast and song in thankfulness of heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-guiterman/so-once-in-every-year-we-throng-upon-a-day-apart-to-praise-the-lord/) [Arthur Guiterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-guiterman/) > [Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melody-beattie/gratitude-unlocks-the-fullness-of-life/) [Melody Beattie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melody-beattie/) > [It is therefore recommended... to set apart Thursday the eighteenth day of December next, for solemn thanksgiving and praise, that with one heart and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-adams/it-is-therefore-recommended-to-set-apart-thursday-the-eighteenth-day/) [Samuel Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-adams/) > [I have strong doubts that the first Thanksgiving even remotely resembled the 'history' I was told in second grade. But considering that (when it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-orleans/i-have-strong-doubts-that-the-first-thanksgiving-even-remotely/) [Ellen Orleans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-orleans/) > [We have been the recipients of the choicest bounties of Heaven; we have been preserved these many years in peace and prosperity; we have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/we-have-been-the-recipients-of-the-choicest-bounties-of-heaven-we-2/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) ## More by P. J. O'Rourke > [I'm fascinated by political enthusiasm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/i-m-fascinated-by-political-enthusiasm/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [In comparative terms, there's no poverty in America by a long shot. Heritage Foundation political scientist Robert Rector has worked up figures showing that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/in-comparative-terms-there-s-no-poverty-in-america-by-a-long-shot/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [The Democrats said, "We don't know what's wrong with America, but we can fix it." The Republicans said, "There's nothing wrong with America, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/the-democrats-said-we-don-t-know-what-s-wrong-with-america-but-we-can/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [At Epcot Center the Disney corporation has focused its attention on two things greatly in need of Disneyfication: the tedious future and the annoying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/at-epcot-center-the-disney-corporation-has-focused-its-attention-on/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [So-called Western Civilization, as practised in half of Europe, some of Asia and a few parts of North America, is better than anything else…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/so-called-western-civilization-as-practised-in-half-of-europe-some-of/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [My whole family can talk. They are all car salesmen. They are all funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/my-whole-family-can-talk-they-are-all-car-salesmen-they-are-all-funny/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [It was Ronald Reagan who used to say that the 10 most frightening words in the English language are, "I'm from the federal government,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/it-was-ronald-reagan-who-used-to-say-that-the-10-most-frightening/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [Gun violence has cost us too many political leaders, and hardly ever the worst ones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/gun-violence-has-cost-us-too-many-political-leaders-and-hardly-ever/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [Pete Seeger is a modest, unassuming, cheerful, and kind-natured man. He's a good folk singer, if you can stand folk singing. And he's such…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/pete-seeger-is-a-modest-unassuming-cheerful-and-kind-natured-man-he-s/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [Journalists are notoriously easy to kid. All you have to do is speak to a journalist in a very serious tone of voice, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/journalists-are-notoriously-easy-to-kid-all-you-have-to-do-is-speak/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [I like to think of my behavior in the sixties as a 'learning experience.' Then again, I like to think of anything stupid I've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/i-like-to-think-of-my-behavior-in-the-sixties-as-a-learning/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [I'll be 56 this year, I've got two kids, and I think it's probably time to go back to writing one-glove jokes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/i-ll-be-56-this-year-i-ve-got-two-kids-and-i-think-it-s-probably-time/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [Something that comes to us, some gym shoe that comes to us as a result of child labor from a brutal dictatorship, where people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/something-that-comes-to-us-some-gym-shoe-that-comes-to-us-as-a-result/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [Russians not only vehemently despise blacks, they believe Africa begins at the Ukraine border.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/russians-not-only-vehemently-despise-blacks-they-believe-africa/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [Now, do I think the baby boomers tend to be self-absorbed? I do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/now-do-i-think-the-baby-boomers-tend-to-be-self-absorbed-i-do/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) [Explore all 983 P. J. O'Rourke quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) ## More Day after thanksgiving quotes > [Thanksgiving is the day when you turn to another family member and say, 'How long has Mom been drinking like this?' My Mom, after…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-letterman/thanksgiving-is-the-day-when-you-turn-to-another-family-member-and/) [David Letterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-letterman/) > [Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, is the biggest shopping day of the year, it's also the biggest leftovers day of the year.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-doocy/friday-the-day-after-thanksgiving-is-the-biggest-shopping-day-of-the/) [Steve Doocy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-doocy/) > [My fondest memories are generally the day after Thanksgiving. I get the total decorating Christmas itch.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katharine-mcphee/my-fondest-memories-are-generally-the-day-after-thanksgiving-i-get/) [Katharine McPhee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katharine-mcphee/) > [You may have heard of Black Friday and Cyber Monday. There's another day you might want to know about: Giving Tuesday. The idea is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-gates/you-may-have-heard-of-black-friday-and-cyber-monday-there-s-another/) [Bill Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-gates/) > [What we're really talking about is a wonderful day set aside on the fourth Thursday of November when no one diets. I mean, why…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erma-bombeck/what-we-re-really-talking-about-is-a-wonderful-day-set-aside-on-the/) [Erma Bombeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erma-bombeck/) > [No one is as capable of gratitude as one who has escaped the kingdom of night.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elie-wiesel/no-one-is-as-capable-of-gratitude-as-one-who-has-escaped-the-kingdom/) [Elie Wiesel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elie-wiesel/) > [Think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flames within us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/think-with-deep-gratitude-of-those-who-have-lighted-the-flames-within/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) > [Not what we say about our blessings, but how we use them, is the true measure of our thanksgiving," and the words of John…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-t-purkiser/not-what-we-say-about-our-blessings-but-how-we-use-them-is-the-true-2/) [W. T. Purkiser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-t-purkiser/) > [“Q: Which party had wildest celebration and how did it play out? 1) The 1972 Dolphins Super Bowl watching party for the David Tyree…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-simmons-grantland-mailbag-oct-28-2012/q-which-party-had-wildest-celebration-and-how-did-it-play-out-1-the/) [Bill Simmons Grantland Mailbag Oct. 28 2012](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-simmons-grantland-mailbag-oct-28-2012/) > [Christmas is a huge thing in my family. We usually start decorating the day after Thanksgiving. We spend Christmas Eve with one set of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samantha-isler/christmas-is-a-huge-thing-in-my-family-we-usually-start-decorating/) [Samantha Isler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samantha-isler/) > [“Out of curiosity, why would you have tried to destroy the world?” “Ever attempted to hunt down a parking space at Christmas? Buy a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/out-of-curiosity-why-would-you-have-tried-to-destroy-the-world-ever/) [sherrilyn kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) [Browse all 12 Day after thanksgiving quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/day-after-thanksgiving/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Thanksgiving is so called because we are all so thankful that it only comes once a year.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "P. J. 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