And now for some T-day cynicism from -M

[themeletor]

I realize several people on my flist are probably a little sketchy on the whole Thanksgiving thing. So I thought I'd break out my Powers of Observation and Ascerbic Wit, and clear it up a bit for y'all.
lolita_stardust's words, which I am using as a springboard:
Could someone please explain Thanksgiving to me?

I mean, i get the basics, but what do you eat? are there other customs? are there typical Thanksgiving movies the way there are christmas movies? how do you decorate the house? anything else?

Hrm. Thanksgiving. When you can finally get the whole family in one place for long enough to get some really great fights going.

Eat- Turkey. Turkeyturkeyturkey. Or, for those of us who -aren't- barbarians, there's the much-abused 'tofurkey'. Tofu-turkey. Along with, classic dishes are such delicate and difficult-to-prepare things as canned-soup and frozen-greenbean casserole, mashed potatoes, yams in sugar and butter -sometimes with the haute-cuisine addition of small marshmallows-, canned synthesized cranberry sauce, and a mess of other things one's in-laws brings to make one's stomach turn and one's cooking look bad.

Other- football (American football >.< which is dumb), arguing with relatives, waxing patriotic and religious when one is in fact nothing of the sort.

Movies- Charlie Brown's Thanksgiving? Perhaps? There are probably several fringe T-day specials, but generally the networks don't trouble themselves with it, except that the T-meal drama provides hackneyed fodder for sitcom drivel.

Decorations- smoke rolling out from the oven, withered-looking papier-mache turkeys scattered about, random corn and "harvest" items placed on every surface available. Go with the warm, mute colors, like rusted fender, or dried blood, or squashed squash, or overdone pumpkin. Use thick, jarring textiles. Think burlap. And a few half-drunk beer cans or bottles will help set the scene for dinner.

Anything Else?- Dear lord I should hope not.

Voila, mes amis.

Comments

[meletor-et-al.livejournal.com]

heh. Thanksgiving is one of those American holidays that makes me want to dig a hole and hide in it.

[drbillbongo.livejournal.com]

Well, we celebrate sth that is called "Erntedank" ("Harvest Thanks" - that's a stupid word *giggles*), but it's no holiday. It's just a special ceremony in church.