not thankful
By Elizabeth
@Poppylicious (11134)
United Kingdom
November 25, 2015 4:50pm CST
Tomorrow is Thanksgiving.
I think that statement is quite possibly the most obvious utterance which has come forth from my head, ever.
However, it's an American holiday. Whilst you pesky, but oh-so cute, awww, look at those chubby cheeks! American folk stuff yourselves with turkey and limber up for Black Friday, the rest of the world will be working hard.
I read an article this morning which suggested that many people in Britain are starting to celebrate it, even if they have no ties to the big land across the pond.
Um, what the friggin' pigeon?!
Why? What is this need and desire we have to copy all things American? We've already begun to celebrate Halloween {except that's a complete lie pushed on us by greedy corporate folk ... any visit to Tesco would clear that up on November the first.} We're gradually allowing American-English to infiltrate our language. Films are now movies and Father Christmas is now Santa Clause. And please, don't get me started on the chaos that is Black Friday. We don't need Black Friday; we have Boxing Day!
I think that next year I may celebrate Bastille Day. I shall stuff my face with brie and baguette whilst drinking Champers. I live near France and I love cheese ... that is reason enough.
But in an effort to be culturally diverse, I wish my American friends a lovely, happy Thanksgiving. I look forward to all those Facebook statuses which are thankful. And to the rest of the world, happy Thursday! Work hard!
6 people like this
6 responses
@Poppylicious (11134)
• United Kingdom
25 Nov 15
This is probably true, which would make it the best kept secret of all time!
3 people like this
@boiboing (13147)
• Northampton, England
25 Nov 15
That's utterly butterly ridiculous. We've already had Halloween and Valentine's day and (god help us all) Black Friday imported from the other side of the pond. There's no possible reason to do Thanksgiving in the UK. Don't need it, don't want it. Unless of course we get a couple of days of work and then I might change my mind
3 people like this
@boiboing (13147)
• Northampton, England
25 Nov 15
@Poppylicious I suddenly become interested in the royal family when their weddings and anniversaries lead to days off.
3 people like this
@Poppylicious (11134)
• United Kingdom
26 Nov 15
@boiboing I do actually have a lot of respect for them both. Despite what people say, they do work incredibly hard when they would probably enjoy nothing more than spending their time doing things they want to do!
@Poppylicious (11134)
• United Kingdom
25 Nov 15
Oh wow, yes. Don't they get three days off? I'd celebrate anything for those extra days off, as long as they're paid days!
3 people like this
and think like an American. She doesn't think that is so bad.
@Rollo1 (16676)
• Boston, Massachusetts
26 Nov 15
@Poppylicious Actually, I am beginning to understand that there's a feeling of being marginalized and overshadowed and overcome. The French have been fighting the encroachment of Americanisms on their language for decades. I feel the same way when I go to New Hampshire or Maine and find that even the writing on the milk cartons is in both French and English in case Canucks pop down from Quebec to shop or something. In my state, every official notice is written in 24 languages. In the case of the internet, I think it is just striving for a homogenous experience. Don't let them adopt Halloween. It's no good.
2 people like this
@Poppylicious (11134)
• United Kingdom
26 Nov 15
Yep, you're all sneakily infiltrating into our way of life! I'm just very English and make a habit of trying to remain very English. I think the internet is creating more of a world-wide American vibe. Young people here think "movies" is normal. It isn't. Computer spellcheckers don't help either, when they automatically default to American English. Grrr ...
3 people like this
@Poppylicious (11134)
• United Kingdom
26 Nov 15
Lolz, I know that! It's just that we do seem to be lusting after American imported holidays, and all the shebang they bring with them.
1 person likes this
@Poppylicious (11134)
• United Kingdom
27 Nov 15
Ha ha! I had to read back through my post to see why I'd used the cheese tag!
1 person likes this
@dorianna (509)
• United States
26 Nov 15
I have little regard for holidays, and do not particularly care where they originated. Now that you mention it, however, Thanksgiving is the only holiday that really originated in the US. Like most holidays, the origin is generally steeped in some religious ferver, bloodshed or falsehood. I don't care where they come from, I shy away from all of them, Christmas being the worse. Guess you could say, I am a scrooge.
The one thing I do partake of, however, instead of the traditions of Thanksgiving, I do use the day to remind myself of the many blessing I have had and now enjoy in my life. Each day of my life has mini-miracles and sometimes I forget to say thank you. So Thanksgiving rolls around and I am reminded to be thankful. That is about all the day is really good for. I never pay attention to the origin.
@Poppylicious (11134)
• United Kingdom
27 Nov 15
I like that. I wonder how many other people remember to be thankful.
@Poppylicious (11134)
• United Kingdom
27 Nov 15
I like that. I wonder how many other people remember to be thankful.
1 person likes this
