All things English/American

[Merlin]

Dear americans,

No google or wikipedia answers I want this from your own personal perspective . .

Thanksgiving . . Explain this to me please. And what does it mean to you ? X x

Jeepers Merlin, the notion of Thanksgiving is pretty easy that even I know about it. No wiki needed. The Pilgrims of the Plymouth colony gave thanks to God after surviving their first hard winter in New England. Gave thanks for being helped to survive by the indigenous, Native American population. You've heard of Squanto surely and the leader of the Wampanoag tribe who donated food to the colonists after the supplies they brought from England ran out. I could be entirely wrong in this of course, I've only done the basic history of the 'colonies'.

I look forward to hearing what the celebration means to Planet members personally.

[Apocalipstic]

Wow, Thanksgiving.

What Incubus said is the party line....

But if I think about it in that vein I have to go with it being a celebration of the stealing and raping of the central part of the North American continent by colonists.

So, I try to go with it being a day to reflect on those things I am thankful for like my friends, my job etc.

Originally Posted by apocalipstic

Wow, Thanksgiving.

What Incubus said is the party line....

But if I think about it in that vein I have to go with it being a celebration of the stealing and raping of the central part of the North American continent by colonists.

So, I try to go with it being a day to reflect on those things I am thankful for like my friends, my job etc.

It's the history I've been taught of course which is Eurocentric just as yours is US-centric. I'm pleased to say the the Brits weren't the first to land and colonize. Weren't the Spanish, Portuguese and French there before us?

To be fair, when I celebrate Thanksgiving with my 'merican friend we're giving thanks for good friends and for our democratic freedoms.

[wolfbittenpoet]

Originally Posted by Incubus

It's the history I've been taught of course which is Eurocentric just as yours is US-centric. I'm pleased to say the the Brits weren't the first to land and colonize. Weren't the Spanish, Portuguese and French there before us?

To be fair, when I celebrate Thanksgiving with my 'merican friend we're giving thanks for good friends and for our democratic freedoms.

While the other nationalities are the first colonizers the Brits are who get remembered on Thanksgiving. In my family we decide that the holiday really is a precursor carb loading time for the madness that is Black Friday.

Originally Posted by wolfbittenpoet

While the other nationalities are the first colonizers the Brits are who get remembered on Thanksgiving. In my family we decide that the holiday really is a precursor carb loading time for the madness that is Black Friday.

To be fair, the English (as opposed to the UK) were creating the Empire and starting it's dirty, bullish, colonizing ways long before they landed in Plymouth. Black Friday, wiki says that's the start of the Christmas shopping period, is that what you mean?

[Ciaran]

Originally Posted by Incubus

To be fair, the English (as opposed to the UK) were creating the Empire and starting it's dirty, bullish, colonizing ways long before they landed in Plymouth. Black Friday, wiki says that's the start of the Christmas shopping period, is that what you mean?

The Empire was a British creation, not solely an English one.

The UK, itself, had nothing to do with the Empire as it was simply a constitutional framework to unite Scotland to England and Wales (in 1707) and, subsequently, Ireland. The Empire was being built before the UK existed in an constitutional sense.

[Kätzchen]

Merlin?

My heart feels torn about many American social holidays, mainly because of social rituals and identity. It's a slippery slope in my mind, celebration of a holiday. I like Thanksgiving because it's a nice time to come together with people you care deeply for (family, friends, relatives) and I cannot help but think of people who have no family, friends or relatives to spend a holiday with.

I think everyday should be a 'holiday' - one in which we feel invited for who we are, where we have a place at the 'table' to sup with one another. There's nothing like good food, conversation that enriches the soul, and a social bonding that brings us together in ways that stands the test of time.

What about you? Is there a particular holiday that means a lot to you?

Personally, I think birthdays are important holidays. . .

[Merlin]

Originally Posted by Incubus

Jeepers Merlin, the notion of Thanksgiving is pretty easy that even I know about it. No wiki needed. The Pilgrims of the Plymouth colony gave thanks to God after surviving their first hard winter in New England. Gave thanks for being helped to survive by the indigenous, Native American population. You've heard of Squanto surely and the leader of the Wampanoag tribe who donated food to the colonists after the supplies they brought from England ran out. I could be entirely wrong in this of course, I've only done the basic history of the 'colonies'.

I look forward to hearing what the celebration means to Planet members personally.

Never did anything about american history at school. That's why I am asking the americans lol.

[wolfbittenpoet]

I found I preferred Jack in the Doctor Who Series and the first season of Torchwood. Later on he became moody and unJackish. In a very Doctor Who style of course. I never quite caught on to The Sarah Jane Adventures.

I also am a devotee of Red Dwarf. Use to get up two hours early for school to watch it.

For me Thanksgiving is a celebration of stolen land, broken promises, and Puritan intolerance.

Originally Posted by wolfbittenpoet

I found I preferred Jack in the Doctor Who Series and the first season of Torchwood. Later on he became moody and unJackish. In a very Doctor Who style of course. I never quite caught on to The Sarah Jane Adventures.

I also am a devotee of Red Dwarf. Use to get up two hours early for school to watch it.

Crikey I thought Jack really came into his own in Torchwood and loved each series. I've never seen the Sarah Jane Adventures - they're shown on childrens tv here but I was saddened at the recent death of Elizabeth Sladen who was one of Dr.Who's three main girl sidekicks of the 70s - the ones I remember anyway. Sara Jane crossed over two Dr's, when Jon Pertwee (3rd Dr. and the real Dr of my childhood) regenerated as Tom Baker, Sara Jane was his companion. Of course we all remember the 4th Dr's (Tom Baker) companion Leela too for her lack of clothing

[Bit]

Originally Posted by Incubus

Black Friday, wiki says that's the start of the Christmas shopping period, is that what you mean?

Black Friday is the day after Thanksgiving in the US, when traditionally the stores open insanely early and have insanely great bargains to start the insanely crazy Christmas shopping season. The truth is that the season starts in September now, much to the dismay of those who believe Christmas is overcommercialized.

The day got the name Black Friday because it was so often the first day in the year when store revenues flipped from being in the red to being in the black; the sales from the day often were a store's only chance to begin to make a profit for the year.

Originally Posted by Bit

Black Friday is the day after Thanksgiving in the US, when traditionally the stores open insanely early and have insanely great bargains to start the insanely crazy Christmas shopping season. The truth is that the season starts in September now, much to the dismay of those who believe Christmas is overcommercialized.

The day got the name Black Friday because it was so often the first day in the year when store revenues flipped from being in the red to being in the black; the sales from the day often were a store's only chance to begin to make a profit for the year.

That's what I read on wiki...I thought Black whatever was a stock market crash not Christmas shopping season.

[Bit]

Originally Posted by Incubus

That's what I read on wiki...I thought Black whatever was a stock market crash not Christmas shopping season.

The stock market crash was Black Tuesday... and truthfully, MANY employees who work retail on Black Friday think of it as a huge disaster. It's the day they are forced to accept the worst excesses of human greed, right up to and including crowds trampling people to death just to get the latest geegaws for a cheap price. Black Friday is not for the faint of heart nor, many times, for the sane.

Ooh Bit I love your story of Thanksgiving through your ages. How fabulous. I'm so sorry you lost everything but so chuffed (very Brit for real happy) you found reason to give thanks no matter what. I guessed that Squanto is the party line...sanitized history in other words. Who's going to post links to the 'real' history for me?

[Bit]

Here's where I started, Incubus.

[ame="http://www.amazon.com/Indian-Givers-Indians-Americas-Transformed/dp/0449904962"]Amazon.com: Indian Givers: How the Indians of the Americas Transformed the World (9780449904961): Jack Weatherford: Books[/ame]

I've always looked for the good and for the blessings in my life; it's who I am. *soft smile* Thank you for the kudos.

Originally Posted by Bit

Here's where I started, Incubus. http://www.amazon.com/Indian-Givers-Indians-Americas-Transformed/dp/0449904962

I've always looked for the good and for the blessings in my life; it's who I am. *soft smile* Thank you for the kudos.

Thank-you Bit...I shall buy and read after my stated summer agenda of Tales of the City. Gracias.

[Bit]

Originally Posted by Merlin

Dear americans,

No google or wikipedia answers I want this from your own personal perspective . .

Thanksgiving . . Explain this to me please. And what does it mean to you ? X x

What Thanksgiving means to me has changed over time. When I was a kid, it was all about the Pilgrims and Squanto, the Autumn Harvest, four days off school, eating the best food on earth bar none, and trying to stay the heck out of the way because my mother was a crazy woman.

When I was a teenager, it was about church and then a big stress-filled family dinner, involving impossible cleaning schedules, impossible cooking schedules, waaaayyy too many relatives crammed into the space allotted, a screaming mother, eating two hours after the scheduled time, and the best food on earth bar none. (You might imagine I had some mixed feelings about it all by that time.) I still believed in the Pilgrims and Squanto and I still recognized the Autumn Harvest.

When I was a young adult, Thanksgiving involved walking in on this stress-filled scene three quarters of the way through when my partner--who was persona non grata--dropped me off, to then go on to her own much calmer family dinner where I was persona non grata. I still believed in the Pilgrims and Squanto and the Autumn Harvest, and I still ate the best food on earth bar none.

When I was in my thirties I said no more family angst and learned to roast my own turkey--the one thing I hadn't already done--and my partner and I stayed home by ourselves. I had learned the truth about the Pilgrims and Squanto by then and had done some serious reading of accurate history; I felt guilty with every bite, even as I did my best to remember those who died as well as giving thanks for my own blessings and the Autumn Harvest while I ate the best food on earth bar none.

When I forty-four I lost everything that had meaning for me except for Ladybug and my online community. I was forced to move back in with my mom as a charity case. I discovered then that Thanksgiving had a meaning for me that I had never articulated before: it wasn't about where I was, or whom I might be with; it wasn't about where I lived or whether had my own place; it was entirely about what I did. Thanksgiving was cooking the best food on earth bar none, decorating the house, bringing the gift of "holiday" to the people I fed. I still remembered those who had died, I still counted my own blessings and acknowledged the Autumn Harvest, and I still felt guilty with every bite.

When I was 49 I moved to Kansas and made my home with Gryph, who has native American heritage and who did not celebrate Thanksgiving. I listened to his music and read more accurate history and nearly perished from the guilt of it all............

...............and I subverted Gryph anyway and cooked Thanksgiving dinner for him.

Because you know what the best food on earth bar none is, the traditional food of Thanksgiving in the US? It's the gift of thousands of years of Native American farmers and gardeners, a gift to the world from the continents of the Americas--turkey, cranberries, sweet potatoes, white potatoes, green beans, corn, wild rice, tomatoes, winter squash, chestnuts, pecans, pumpkin.

The Autumn Harvest is the gift of the First Nations to us, and so every year as I give thanks for my own blessings, I give them on what I call First Nations Day and Gryph and I celebrate with the best food on the face of the earth bar none. I still feel an everpresent sadness and anger at what has happened to the first peoples of these continents, but I no longer feel guilt over celebrating the bountiful harvest of Autumn, just gratitude to the first farmers for their incredible gift to the world.

[Gráinne]

Originally Posted by Merlin

Dear americans,

No google or wikipedia answers I want this from your own personal perspective . .

Thanksgiving . . Explain this to me please. And what does it mean to you ? X x

Thanksgiving originated with the colonists, but Abraham Lincoln was the first president to celebrate it on one day as a national holiday, in the midst of the Civil War. Franklin Roosevelt fixed the day in November.

I stop to be thankful for all I have, and that for all our problems, we're darn blessed as well. I do have to confess that I love all the cooking madhouse, and football (American football, traditionally played on the day), but I try to have a moment to myself in thanks.