Thankgiving

Some weeks ago I was ranting about all the foolish American "holidays".  This time I am saying, good one!  Thanksgiving is a huge American holiday and here are some reasons it is great:

1. It is always on a Thursday AND nearly everyone gets Friday off.
2. There are no expectations for presents, and only a few people do cards
3. People are really good at inviting others who might not have families
4. Everyone has their own things that make Thanksgiving...specific dishes or even just how to do things...BUT, it doesnt matter!  People can have both your mashed potatoes with my roast potatoes.
5. You don't even have to eat or like turkey....the sides are often better
6. You don't have to be American, or Christian, or anything special to celebrate
7. Black Friday for shopping, CAN be ignored
8. It is getting cold, so you know skiing is around the corner
9. It is a time to say thanks, to anyone for everything: so just do it!

Happy thanksgiving!

World view....

It is interesting to me how people's view of other countries is distorted, wrong or so way off it is funny.  I have been asked which country in South Africa I was from, and I didn't feel that confusing them with Lesotho would help.  And of course, there is the inevitable, "I have a friend from Ethiopia, perhaps you know her?" (Really!).  

What is interesting to me about the map below is that even I was surprised at the size of Africa. I remembering hearing how Namibia was equal to large portions of Europe, but the regular map we see is really so distorted.  Part of the ignorance I can blame on education, but a lot is just the myth the media perpetuates.....Africa is small and irrelevant....

Seen like this, Africa is really huge!

Guy Fawkes

Some Americans know the phrase, "remember, remember the 5th of November", but most dont know more than that.  Wait, most Brits (and certainly South Africans) never knew or forget the origins.  It's more fun just to have fireworks and a great big bonfire, and perhaps roast some chestnuts. Just so everyone is clear

Guy Fawkes Day 2010 gives Brits occasion to burn in effigy the revolutionary who attempted to violently restore Catholicism in 1605.

 Here in Bolton, Massachussets:

• no fireworks (they are illegal)
• no bonfires (need a town permit) which they only grant when the ground is frozen

 Oh well, I can remember the fun of being a kid!

Holidays

In many parts of the world, a holiday is a day off work and banks and businesses are closed.  UK actually has a bank holiday.  In the US of A it took me a while to understand that there are many types of holidays and for many of them, people still work....there are federal, religious, traditional, and informal holidays....

So we just had the Halloween holiday which some people would say is perpetuated by candy (ie chocolate) manufactures, and most of course are "Hallmark" holidays, where that company benefits from people buying cards for every occasion.

I found this list of "holidays":

April Fool's Day - April 1
Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month - May
Chinese New Year - winter, date varies
Cinco de Mayo - May 5
Columbus Day
Easter - Spring Sunday, date varies
Father's Day - June, third Sunday
Flag Day - June 14
Groundhog Day - February 2
Halloween - October 31
Kwanzaa - December 26 - January 1
Leif Erikson Day - October 9
Mardi Gras and Ash Wednesday - late winter, date varies
Mother's Day - May; second Sunday
Oktoberfest - late September to early October
Rosh Hashanah - depends on Hebrew calendar
Sadie Hawkins Day - Saturday that follows November 9
St. Patrick's Day - March 17
Valentine's Day - February 14
Yom Kippur - depends on Hebrew calendar

and then I was even more delighted to find food "holidays" I didn't know I should be celebrating in November!  You can see the full list here: http://www.statesymbolsusa.org/National_Symbols/American_Hollidays.html

So November is:

National Fun with Fondue Month
National Georgia Pecan Month
National Peanut Butter Lover's Month
National Pepper Month
National Raisin Bread Month

Awesome!