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message 1:
by
Susan
(new)
Nov 21, 2012 06:13PM
I just wanted to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving tomorrow. I am thankful for how much the Irish have given us in many different ways. And I am thankful for this book club.
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Happy thanksgiving to all..... and I echo Susan...
Happy Thanksgiving, Susan. Take it easy on the pumpkin pie.
I am glad to be home on Thanksgiving. I spent one Thanksgiving in Oxford, England and another in Brazil where is was a regular day. it made me realize how much I hate missing this holiday which is right up there with Christmas as a favorite.
I find that a little funny, Barbara. Simply because I've spent a few St. Patrick's days outside of Irealnd. These were mostly in the UK, one was in France and one was in Florida.
It wasn't difficult to find people wearing green, drinking Guinness and singing Irish songs they didn't know the words to at any of these. Our most successful export is a day were people feel duty bound to get drunk.
Anyhow, It sounds like you had a nice Thanksgiving, this year. I wonder was spending it in Brazil any stranger than spending it in Oxford?
It wasn't difficult to find people wearing green, drinking Guinness and singing Irish songs they didn't know the words to at any of these. Our most successful export is a day were people feel duty bound to get drunk.
Anyhow, It sounds like you had a nice Thanksgiving, this year. I wonder was spending it in Brazil any stranger than spending it in Oxford?
Well at least in the UK you can find groups of Americans celebrating the holiday. We didn't bother, as it was a bit too complicated and ate a simple pub dinner. In Brazil, there was no chance of coming close to a traditional Thanksgiving where we lived in the south of the country. BUT since then, I have celebrated Thanksgiving here in the US at least 3 or 4 years with Brazilians. Last year I invited a visiting professor from Brazil and her family to a full traditional Thanksgiving at my house and they loved it! Now my closest Brazilian friend has moved back to Brazil with her American husband and I miss the times we cooked Thanksgiving dinner together here in Maryland. I have heard many times that St. Patrick's Day has taken on a life of its own around the world. It was never much of celebration in Ireland though for the past few years it seems the Irish Tourist Board is playing it up and it has grown at least in places like Dublin. For many it's just an excuse to drink to excess. It is very similar to Cinco de Mayo which has become a big holiday in the US for drinking but is a very very minor holiday in Mexico. Blame it on capitalism, perhaps?
Barbara wrote: "Well at least in the UK you can find groups of Americans celebrating the holiday. We didn't bother, as it was a bit too complicated and ate a simple pub dinner. In Brazil, there was no chance of co..."You're probably right, Barbara, about capitalism but I guess it makes us feel more worldly too. That's the greatest thing about Thanksgiving is it's lack of commercialism. Our town puts on a huge Thanksgiving dinner at the senior center. It's free but donations are accepted. Over 1000 people attend in a town of 7000. It's great to have a day to count our blessings.
I've just watched a news clip about Black Friday. Is it as, er, 'competative' as it looks?
Susan wrote: "Barbara wrote: "Well at least in the UK you can find groups of Americans celebrating the holiday. We didn't bother, as it was a bit too complicated and ate a simple pub dinner. In Brazil, there was..."That is wonderful. I like also that Thanksgiving is celebrated by virtually everyone in the U.S. It is not a religious holiday, and it is a day that appeals to many people. I used to live in Boston, and every year there was a protest at Plymouth Rock. My neighbor was a former tribal chair of the Wampanoag, the people who first celebrated with the Pilgrims. He said that the people who came to protest were not Wampanoag but from other tribes and states. Of course the protesters had a point about the destructive impact of the arrival of Europeans and the move west.
Declan wrote: "I've just watched a news clip about Black Friday. Is it as, er, 'competative' as it looks?"Black Friday is pretty awful and many Americans avoid the insanity. Today, is Small Business Saturday - I think this is the first year. On Black Friday I must confess for 4 years in a row I have left home at 4 am for a sale at the best yarn shop around. The discount is 30% off from 6-8 am. Afterwards, my friends and I go to International House of Pancakes. The true bargains are limited on Black Friday and often there are very small quantities of the best goods or you may get stuck with a model that is out of date. This year in the US there were protests from employees who were forced to work on Thanksgiving day. Opening on the holiday was new this year and shows there is no end to trying to sell sell sell.
We're all suckers for a bargain.
I remember one year I attended the after-Christmas sale of a famous British clothes shop. It opened at 5 am. I would normally avoid these things like the plague, too, but I needed clothes and the bargains were supposed to be, and were, excellent.
I went in; vied for clothes and eventually went to pay. A little guy tried to grab a coat out of my hand and started shouting stuff at me in Chinese. I swore 'never again' after that.
I remember one year I attended the after-Christmas sale of a famous British clothes shop. It opened at 5 am. I would normally avoid these things like the plague, too, but I needed clothes and the bargains were supposed to be, and were, excellent.
I went in; vied for clothes and eventually went to pay. A little guy tried to grab a coat out of my hand and started shouting stuff at me in Chinese. I swore 'never again' after that.
