It’s Thanksgiving! A time of family traditions. Long drives, deep brines, and new belt notches. And, inevitably, Norman Rockwell’s "Freedom From Want." You know, the one with the turkey.

We had a  ginormous Norman Rockwell book in house, a tome you you could sink into. So when I thought of Thanksgiving, I always thought of "Freedom From Want." It was our quirky, arty family thing. So I was surprise to learn the whole world felt the same way about the Rockwell painting.

Tylenol's brings everyone in for the Rockwell

(Studio360 / Sideshow)

"Freedom from Want," part of Rockwell's Four Freedom series, is America's Mona Lisa, a Hallmark card seared into our national DNA. And every year it gets remixed. Might I add that the meme started before Twitter? Tumblr? The internets themselves?!

Animated characters

For Bronies and MMC alum alike, Rockwell has a table just for you (big images)

(Charles Boyer / Happy Bunns / Lilo and Stitch)

The backstory: It's 1941, and President Franklin D. Roosevelt has just given his State of the Union address. In that speech, Roosevelt outlined his famous "four freedoms": freedom of speech, freedom of worship, freedom from want, and freedom from fear. Rockwell hears the speech on the radio. Inspired, he "bolts" out of bed to start drawing, then hops on a train to Washington, ready to put his art in service of the war effort. But when Rockwell arrives, the clerk rejects him. No illustrators. Luckily The Saturday Evening Post wanted the drawings. And guess who had a change of heart? Uncle Sam. The Four Freedoms eventually helped raise $132 million in bonds towards squashing the Third Reich.

But then how did Rockwell's Turkey Day image become iconic while the others are merely famous? Any of Rockwell's images could have gone gangbusters, but this was the one. At the time, the illustration must have seemed over the top: an overabundance of food at a time of austerity. Maybe that's what's sparked political illustrators, artists, and TV shows to insert their images into Rockwell's world. It's humorous and wholesome, and we love it. 

Digital

Back at the Genius Bar (big images)

(University Pulse / Daily Kos / Advertising Age)

Political

When you didn't play the Adele track in time.

We'll just leave this here (big images)

(Chicago Tribune / John Cole / Paul Duginski )

Arty

What’s most surprising is how true everyone stayed to the composition here.

Art imitates art (big images)

(Tristan Elwell / Aaron Johnson / Sam Spratt)

TV characters

Isn't that great how Charlie *might* be helping hold the turkey? (big images)

(Peanuts / Muppets / Chad Frye) 

Fantasy

Yes, die hards, there's everything from Iron Man to Wonder Woman (big images)

(Bryan Hitch/ Zach T. Jordan / Robert Kanigher)

  ...and one for the Rugrats faithful.

(ReBloggy)

Really, there are just so many. It seems there's a "Freedom from Want" for every conceivable home, cultural scene, or imaginary universe. Still don't see yourself represented? (We found a surprising dearth of nontraditional gender roles or families of color.) So make your own. Don't worry, this meme's not going anywhere soon.

Want to see more? I started a Rockwell Remix Tumblr just for you.

Happy Thanksgiving, one and all!

Remember to chip in this weekend!

(Giphy)