Explain Thanksgiving, in detail, to an Aussie.

[StBishop]

Hey, so I assume that there's at least one person here that celebrates Thanksgiving.

My queries are: What, exactly, are you giving thanks for?
Is this a religious thing? ie. are you thanking (a) God?
When is it?
Why do you need it if there's already Christmas, Hanukkah or other December holidays?(sorry I have limited knowledge of other religious holidays beyond my own)
What do you do? (Tv has told me you eat a turkey, something with a cornucopia??)
Is this a purely American thing?

Yeah add in other details if you wish... I don't need you to copy paste the Wikipedia entry I'm curious how it's percieved by this community.

 

[Mr.Black]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thanksgiving_(United_States)

/thread

 

[StBishop]

...... I don't need you to copy paste the Wikipedia entry I'm curious how it's percieved by this community.

 

[UnravThreads]

I believe it's not religious, it's purely American, and it's a huge, huge thing.

 

[LeonLethality]

well canadian thanksgiving is to celebrate our rebellion against the turkey overlords and every year we feast on them as population control so they never rise again

not sure about americans though

 

[amrl]

I come from the UK so I don't really know.
Isn't it to do with the Pilgrims coming to America?

 

[ReincarnatedFTP]

You give thanks for whatever you consider yourself blessed with, but it's really really family oriented in most places.
It's a religious thing, or it originated that way.You're thanking God for all the blessings you have.

It was actually done without the Native Americans for two years, but Native Americans dining with colonists added an interesting story with the moral of the unity of man. Native Americans and Colonists basically feasted together to celebrate the pilgrims not dying over the winter thanks to some Native American help.A moral and a story which made it very marketable.
We don't need it. To be honest, no holiday is needed, it's just there and it's a tradition. During WW2 the government said "hey we should make this a federal holiday as well, since everyone celebrates it".

Between the government officially recognizing it, the fact that now it's commercial, and a slight shift in values, it's now secular in itself, and even non-religious families do it.

What do we do? Usually gather all our family, or as much as we can (including extended) and hang out for a day, eat, and have conversation. Thanksgiving Turkey is a must have for the meal, but it involves other stuff too. There's also a rule amongst my family that the food must be home made.

It's always on the fourth Thursday of November.

 

[Peachfuzz1000]

Something to do with giving thanks and eating turkey. I believe it goes against the indians or something.

yeh im not too sure being from the uk but its always been percieved here as a celebration the americans have for essentially taking the land from the native americans...and eating turky...and im guessing getting absoulutley drunk too as most celebrations have it

ah well, its an old tradition thats kinda stuck and really lost its proper meaning i guess.
kind of like fireworks day, if what we where celebrating on guy falkes happened now a days it been deemed an act of terrorism haha

 

[Cilliandrew]

well canadian thanksgiving is to celebrate our rebellion against the turkey overlords and every year we feast on them as population control so they never rise again

not sure about americans though

Indeed. We all know that Stephen Harper is merely a puppet for the clandestine Turkey-World Order that is REALLY running the show. They are just biding their time...

I've heard that Turkey Juice has been slipped into our H1N1 Flu vaccines. The fowl bastards....


EDIT: Seriously, let's all realize one thing: American Thanksgiving is ALL about a full day of NFL FOOTBALL!

 

[clairedelune]

My queries are: What, exactly, are you giving thanks for?

For the prosperous year we had/hope to have in the future, for the health of family members and friends, I almost see it as being lucky to be alive. But everyone has their own views about Thanksgiving. I think it starts out as a holiday just to eat a lot of good food and see extended family, but you grow to appreciate it more, especially in the times we are in now.

Is this a religious thing? ie. are you thanking (a) God?

Many thank God just because they pray before they eat a meal, but Thanksgiving itself is not a religious holiday.

When is it?

The last Thursday of November every year (tomorrow).

Why do you need it if there's already Christmas, Hanukkah or other December holidays?(sorry I have limited knowledge of other religious holidays beyond my own)

It isn't religious. It's supposed to be some sort of homage to the pilgrims who first settled in New England and were aided in gathering food by native americans who knew the climate and the land, but that's not the whole reason anymore. It is really a time to get together with family who you may not see often, reflect on the past year and gain some hope towards the future. And we can show off our cooking talents.

What do you do? (Tv has told me you eat a turkey, something with a cornucopia??)
Is this a purely American thing?

Yes Thanksgiving is purely American. Traditionally you eat turkey, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, stuffing (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stuffing) and the like. However I know of a lot of people who are either vegetarian families who prepare something completely different or just families who don't like turkey that much. Some sort of meat usually replaces the turkey, like chicken... or vegetarians make tofurkey!
Pretty much no matter what is made to eat, there is always a LOT of it and usually dinner is done earlier in the day (starting between 4 and 6). And I think theres a football game usually.

 

[Eliam_Dar]

You give thanks for whatever you consider yourself blessed with, but it's really really family oriented in most places.
It's a religious thing, or it originated that way.You're thanking God for all the blessings you have.

It was actually done without the Native Americans for two years, but Native Americans dining with colonists added an interesting story with the moral of the unity of man. A moral in story which made it very marketable.
We don't need it. To be honest, no holiday is needed, it's just there and it's a tradition. During WW2 the government said "hey we should make this a federal holiday as well, since everyone celebrates it".

Between the government officially recognizing it, the fact that now it's commercial, and a slight shift in values, it's now secular in itself, and even non-religious families do it.

What do we do? Usually gather all our family, or as much as we can (including extended) and hang out for a day, eat, and have conversation. Thanksgiving Turkey is a must have for the meal, but it involves other stuff too. There's also a rule amongst my family that the food must be home made.

I have no idea if it's American only or not.

It's always on the fourth Thursday of November.

oh cool, thx for the explanation, never understood the concept =)

 

[carpathic]

It is not purely American, we have it in Canada too, though about a month earlier.

It is essentially a celebration of the harvest. Whatever pooh we want to talk about celebrating the natives helping the pilgrims.

Mostly it is an excuse to eat a lot of turkey and stuffing, and then get in a big family fight about something quite trivial. Oh yes, and destroying all of my Girlfriend's family in scrabble (where I am undefeated for 7 years straight at every holiday).

 

[Cilliandrew]

...oh i also think it's important to note that American Thanksgiving is commercially recognized as the "Start of the Christmas Shopping season". The day after Thanksgiving, nicknamed "Black Friday" is one of the most insane shopping days of the year.

 

[Styphax]

I'm going to quote Bill Maher on this one, because regardless of how you feel about him, this was a good point. Thanksgiving is celebrating the one good time we had with the Native Americans. It's like a date rapist going; "Well other than the end of the night, let's focus on the Dinner, it was good right?" Personally I think it's a rather silly Holiday. We need some new ones.

 

[Eliam_Dar]

I'm going to quote Bill Maher on this one, because regardless of how you feel about him, this was a good point. Thanksgiving is celebrating the one good time we had with the Native Americans. It's like a date rapist going; "Well other than the end of the night, let's focus on the Dinner, it was good right?" Personally I think it's a rather silly Holiday. We need some new ones.

trust me, there are worse

 

[Peachfuzz1000]

Something to do with giving thanks and eating turkey. I believe it goes against the indians or something.

yeh im not too sure being from the uk but its always been percieved here as a celebration the americans have for essentially taking the land from the native americans...and eating turky...and im guessing getting absoulutley drunk too as most celebrations have it

ah well, its an old tradition thats kinda stuck and really lost its proper meaning i guess.
kind of like fireworks day, if what we where celebrating on guy falkes happened now a days it been deemed an act of terrorism haha

Imagine burning Osama Bin Liner on a bonfire, someone would call the cops. Can you guys still buy fireworks?

yes, infact in where i live (just outside glasgow) a shop opened in my local shopping centre a week prior too bonfire night that sold soley fireworks.

but back on topic

well canadian thanksgiving is to celebrate our rebellion against the turkey overlords and every year we feast on them as population control so they never rise again

not sure about americans though

i have learned something today =D
i wish i was now canadian, that would definently be a part of my history i would be proud of!