What is "thanksgiving" all about?
Sep 21st 2010, 2:35 pm
#16
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 22,105
Re: What is "thanksgiving" all about?
Thanksgiving was invented to train Firemen (or are they fire people these days?) Anyway kzillions of numptys go out a buy a big pan, fill it with oil, put it over the highest heat possible and attempt to fry a 20lb turkey. Kitchen fires, smoke and smoke alarms everywhere, newbie Firemen get complete training in a day, thus saving money on the usual 1 month training course.
Well, it was. Unfortunately, action figures of drunk middle-aged authors have never generated the same kind of sales as, for example, Star Wars figurines. Thus, over time, non-movie related merchandising has grown to the point that nobody remembers the original purpose of the holiday. 
Sep 21st 2010, 2:55 pm
#18
I'm off to find a spanner
Joined: Feb 2008
Location: Maine
Posts: 2,867
Re: What is "thanksgiving" all about?
That way you are well rested and full of the energy that is required to stay up until 4am for the doorbusters at the nearest mall.
Then it is time for shopping carnage and madness (mentioned before I nearly lost 3 fingers to an old Grannies cart in a mad dash through Walmart once lol)
Late in the day you get to watch all of those clips of people going mental at other malls all across the country.
God I love Thanksgiving. I give thanks to Black Friday.
Sep 21st 2010, 3:23 pm
#19
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 22,105
Re: What is "thanksgiving" all about?
Absolutely. I see Thanksgiving as the day you gorge on food and lay around watching Football.
That way you are well rested and full of the energy that is required to stay up until 4am for the doorbusters at the nearest mall.
Then it is time for shopping carnage and madness (mentioned before I nearly lost 3 fingers to an old Grannies cart in a mad dash through Walmart once lol)
Late in the day you get to watch all of those clips of people going mental at other malls all across the country.
God I love Thanksgiving. I give thanks to Black Friday.
That way you are well rested and full of the energy that is required to stay up until 4am for the doorbusters at the nearest mall.
Then it is time for shopping carnage and madness (mentioned before I nearly lost 3 fingers to an old Grannies cart in a mad dash through Walmart once lol)
Late in the day you get to watch all of those clips of people going mental at other malls all across the country.
God I love Thanksgiving. I give thanks to Black Friday.
Sep 21st 2010, 3:28 pm
#21
Account Closed
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 0
Re: What is "thanksgiving" all about?
Absolutely. I see Thanksgiving as the day you gorge on food and lay around watching Football.
That way you are well rested and full of the energy that is required to stay up until 4am for the doorbusters at the nearest mall.
Then it is time for shopping carnage and madness (mentioned before I nearly lost 3 fingers to an old Grannies cart in a mad dash through Walmart once lol)
Late in the day you get to watch all of those clips of people going mental at other malls all across the country.
God I love Thanksgiving. I give thanks to Black Friday.
That way you are well rested and full of the energy that is required to stay up until 4am for the doorbusters at the nearest mall.
Then it is time for shopping carnage and madness (mentioned before I nearly lost 3 fingers to an old Grannies cart in a mad dash through Walmart once lol)
Late in the day you get to watch all of those clips of people going mental at other malls all across the country.
God I love Thanksgiving. I give thanks to Black Friday.
I see you in a different light now.........are you CRAZY
You've been sucked in by the hype. Please, seek help now before it's too late
Sep 21st 2010, 3:54 pm
#22
I'm off to find a spanner
Joined: Feb 2008
Location: Maine
Posts: 2,867
Re: What is "thanksgiving" all about?
I have a couple of events I like to compete in, my 2 favourites are the "grab a cart and dash to electronics" and the "opening doors wrestling".
The cart dash is usually held in the Walmart crucible (this is a miracle building, there are more people leaping out of wheelchairs and sprinting here than at Lourdes).
The wrestling has been held at a few different venues, the biggest of these being at The Maine Mall. Some people seem to sweat more (even in freezing temperatures) in anticipation of the event to begin.
Sep 21st 2010, 3:56 pm
#23
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 41,518
Re: What is "thanksgiving" all about?
A fellow student at uni who happened to be an American told me in no uncertain terms that the meaning of their Thanksgiving celebrations was very simple to understand - they got shot of the British once and for all, plain and simple, and there was nothing more worthy of celebration than that. But I already knew that anyway, as most reasonably well educated Brits themselves know from their history lessons, and I am astonished that the OP felt it necessary to raise the question.
But I already knew that anyway, as most reasonably well educated Brits themselves know from their history lessons, and I am astonished that the OP felt it necessary to raise the question.
Sep 21st 2010, 4:39 pm
#24
I have a comma problem
Joined: Feb 2009
Location: Fox Lake, IL (from Carrickfergus NI)
Posts: 49,598
Re: What is "thanksgiving" all about?
It's a day off work. Only one, mind - Steerpike is one of the lucky ones to get two.
It's also the day everyone decides it is our house that gets messed up (without a day off the following Friday to clean up), so I can't relax and enjoy my day off.*
It's harmless, really, but it ruins the hope of me ever having a traditional Christmas dinner while out here. The best Thanksgiving for me, was in 2007 when we all went home to visit my mum and left everyone to fend for themselves
* yeah I'm an ungrateful b'stard but sod it, I hate my job and love my quiet time so I reserve the right to get annoyed once a year
It's also the day everyone decides it is our house that gets messed up (without a day off the following Friday to clean up), so I can't relax and enjoy my day off.*
It's harmless, really, but it ruins the hope of me ever having a traditional Christmas dinner while out here. The best Thanksgiving for me, was in 2007 when we all went home to visit my mum and left everyone to fend for themselves
* yeah I'm an ungrateful b'stard but sod it, I hate my job and love my quiet time so I reserve the right to get annoyed once a year
Sep 21st 2010, 4:51 pm
#25
Concierge
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 46,390
Re: What is "thanksgiving" all about?
Thanksgiving Day was to celebrate the end of the growing season and harvest. It is celebrated by Canadians on the first Monday of October and by Americans on the last Thursday of November. Our growing seasons are different.
Just as the Pilgrims who first landed in Cape Code did, a feast is held to mark the harvest and to give thanks for continued health and life.
Traditionally we have turkey on Thanksgiving with white and sweet potatoes and a mixture of different vegetables. This is also the fare in Canada.
The football leagues have games on that day and most households have at least one set tuned to that station.
Christmas dinners vary from one household to another. Being of German and Polish descent our dinner was not turkey but perogies, ham, wurst(s), etc. Christmas Eve was always fish or a non-meat offering.
Just as the Pilgrims who first landed in Cape Code did, a feast is held to mark the harvest and to give thanks for continued health and life.
Traditionally we have turkey on Thanksgiving with white and sweet potatoes and a mixture of different vegetables. This is also the fare in Canada.
The football leagues have games on that day and most households have at least one set tuned to that station.
Christmas dinners vary from one household to another. Being of German and Polish descent our dinner was not turkey but perogies, ham, wurst(s), etc. Christmas Eve was always fish or a non-meat offering.
Sep 21st 2010, 4:57 pm
#26
Deep in the woods of CT
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 7,002
Re: What is "thanksgiving" all about?
A fellow student at uni who happened to be an American told me in no uncertain terms that the meaning of their Thanksgiving celebrations was very simple to understand - they got shot of the British once and for all, plain and simple, and there was nothing more worthy of celebration than that. But I already knew that anyway, as most reasonably well educated Brits themselves know from their history lessons, and I am astonished that the OP felt it necessary to raise the question.
But I already knew that anyway, as most reasonably well educated Brits themselves know from their history lessons, and I am astonished that the OP felt it necessary to raise the question.
Sep 21st 2010, 5:57 pm
#27
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Nov 2007
Location: Northern California
Posts: 381
Re: What is "thanksgiving" all about?
Our family has the traditional turkey at Christmas. However, being of mexican heritage, we do the usual tamale making assembly line and have tamales for a week around Christmas time. Good times!
Sep 21st 2010, 6:15 pm
#29
Just Joined
Joined: Aug 2010
Location: USA
Posts: 21
Re: What is "thanksgiving" all about?
A fellow student at uni who happened to be an American told me in no uncertain terms that the meaning of their Thanksgiving celebrations was very simple to understand - they got shot of the British once and for all, plain and simple, and there was nothing more worthy of celebration than that. But I already knew that anyway, as most reasonably well educated Brits themselves know from their history lessons, and I am astonished that the OP felt it necessary to raise the question.
But I already knew that anyway, as most reasonably well educated Brits themselves know from their history lessons, and I am astonished that the OP felt it necessary to raise the question.
