What happened to Thanksgiving?

More and more each year, I am hating the commercialism that comes with each holiday.
When I was a kid, Easter was not about bunnies, Christmas was not all about Santa, and Thanksgiving wasn't just about turkeys. Sure we had an occasional Easter egg hunt, santa always brought gifts, and we ate turkey on Thanksgiving, but we understood the real meaning behind these festivities. It was an opportunity to be with family, to feel each other's love an friendship. To see cousins we hadn't seen in a while, and to remember Christ. We knew the "Easter story" and we understood the true meaning of Christmas.
And while I am sure that I have taught these things to my children as well, it is getting harder and harder to reinforce what is important, when they are bombarded by the commercialism that is going on EVERYWHERE ELSE. All their friend have to talk about is the latest video game or cartoon, or whatever new electronic device they are trying to convince their parents to buy for them.
The stores only really care about holidays that require gift giving or major decorating. It seems like the day after Halloween the Christmas decor went up this year. I was shocked. I don't remember it EVER being that early before. All of it focuses on SANTA, and gifts. Gone are the few stores who would put up a nativity, because that is no longer politically correct. All of the well wishing signs now say Happy Holidays, rather than Merry Christmas, because heaven forbid if somebody in this Christian Nation offends someone who is not. (don't even get me started on that.)
What I'd like to know is what happened to Thanksgiving? Couldn't we all use a day of gratitude amidst all of this shameless greed and gluttony? Would it kill us to stop, and take a minute to offer a prayer of gratitude and Thanksgiving for all of the blessings we have received, for the bounty we have, and the opportunities that have been afforded us?
I think it is so important for us to teach our kids (and our neighbors kids too, while they are in our homes) how blessed they are, and how important it is to be grateful, and to stand strong for what we believe in, so when the hard times come they (and we) are prepared and ready to move forward.
This year I am looking for more ways to help my kids learn to serve, rather than to be greedy, and I hope to report some great experiences.