Why is Thanksgiving such a big deal in the States?

[yvr girl]

It seems to be right up there with Christmas. In Canada, Thanksgiving is more like Labour Day, except with a turkey dinner.

[GOPisEvil]

1. Well, if it weren't for the Pilgrims, we might be French.

:scared:

[yvr girl]

8. We beat the French

So that wouldn't be a worry. I think it's because you had a rhyme.

[HughBeaumont]

2. So I can have 3 days off to get the hell outta Duh HIGH Ah . . .

and see my family in Silver Spring MD.

Seriously, this cannot come SOON enough. I've had the worst fucking month EVER.

[libnnc]

3. because it kicks off the Christmas shopping season

anything for a buck

[Shell Beau]

4. It's not quite as big as Christmas, but

I honestly don't know. I guess we love food so much!! Plus it is the idea of it being "the holidays". Having Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's all together really gets us, I guess!

[LisaLynne]

5. Because it's all about the food!

Other holidays have presents, going to church, stuff like that. This is just about a big meal full of comfort food.

[progmom]

6. because we like to do things BIG?

yeah. i dunno. :shrug:

[RedCloud]

7. It's where people gave thanks that the original inhabitants did not

even think of using sophisticated ways of killing people and therefore were hapless when the inevitable onslaught arrived.

And it gives the shopaholics one day to carb up before the sales day of the year.

[sasquatch]

9. Because somebody's got to eat all that damn turkey

[anarch]

10. two days off from work

:shrug:

There's also that story about how the Indians taught the pilgrims how to plant corn: "You put it in the ground."

[JVS]

23. Was the planting the hard part or was it a matter of eating corn?

It must be strange to find yourself in a land where the choice of main grain staple (corn, wheat, rye, rice) is not the same as you've been used to.

[Telly Savalas]

39. I think that's a big part of it.

With it being on a Thursday, a lot of people take the Friday off too, which can make longer trips to visit family more feasible, unlike Canuckistani Thanksgiving which is just a 3 day weekend.

But shouldn't both countries celebrate both Thanksgivings cause of NAFTA or something?

[Left Is Write]

11. It would be right up there with Christmas....

....if the commercial, retail world didn't steamroll right OVER it!

[underpants]

12. Let's let Rush Limnbaugh explain it all to you

http://www.nbizz.com/chrmcclung/listings/112.html

[WeRQ4U]

13. Because we have the Detroit Lions

And everyone knows that Detroit is the masculine symbol for Thanksgiving.

[sasquatch]

15. Yeah, how else are Lions going to get to play on national tv

:eyes:

[WeRQ4U]

17. The lions will forever be a shitty team.

No matter what. The Roar shall NEVER be restored.

[nonconformist]

26. Hey!

The Lions WILL win a Super Bowl.

The year after I die.

:cry:

Signed,

Sad Native Detroiter

[WeRQ4U]

27. Believe, being a Minnesota fan, I'm well aware of your struggle.

Minnesota winning a Superbowl will trigger the Rapture.

[redqueen]

14. It's a huge family tradition.

It's all about getting together with friends, family and other loved ones, and celebrating all that you have in your lives to be thankful for.

And we get parades!

And football!

It's awesome! :bounce: :party: :bounce:

[JVS]

16. What is the story of Canadian Thanksgiving?

These holidays might have the same name, but I think they might actually be very different holidays. Thanksgiving isn't like X-mas here, it's like a turkey eating version of the 4th of July. Both are strongly rooted in the idea of ours being a society distinct from the UK.

[yvr girl]

20. Not like Christmas as in similar to it

but just similar amounts of hoopla.

We don't have a story. It's just a day set aside to be thankful (for the harvest) and eat turkey.

[JVS]

22. See, our story is about Puritains who fled England for Holland...

and then decided to come here, and died in droves during the first winter and then finally were able to survive and how pumped they were that they were no longer dying in droves and had food. Although most Americans are not descended from these people, they are viewed as a vital part of the creation of the American society and state.

[Xithras]

36. It's also about cooperation.

The story is about people working together for a common good as well.

[JVS]

38. Yeah that too.

Basically I think Americans care about this holiday because it is a commemoration of part of the foundation of our national identity.

[Gormy Cuss]

18. We've had a few more years to embellish the practice.

Check back with us in a hundred years and let us know how you Canadians are celebrating.:hi:

[cmf]

19. It's a holiday about overeating and watching football.

It's about as American as a holiday you can get. That's why it's so big. ;)

In reality, I don't know? Maybe the emphasis on family that the holiday has? When I was growing up, it was always a holiday to celebrate your family, which makes it important.

[Blue_In_AK]

21. I love Thanksgiving

because you don't have to buy a bunch of presents.

Scrooge McBlue

[Jim__]

24. It's a 4 day weekend that kicks off the Christmas holidays

That's my guess as to why it's so big. In Canada, it's just a 3 day weekend - no?

[yvr girl]

25. You're correct - 3-day weekend

[dr.strangelove]

28. TURKEY!!

Adam Sandler - Thanksgiving Song Lyrics
Love to eat turkey
Love to eat turkey
Love to eat turkey
'Cause it's good
Love to eat turkey
Like a good boy should
'Cause it's turkey to eat
So good

Turkey for me
Turkey for you
Let's eat the turkey
in my big brown shoe
Love to eat the turkey
At the table
I once saw a movie
With Betty Grable
Eat that turkey
All night long
Fifty million Elvis fans
Can't be wrong
Turkey turkey doo and
Turkey turkeydap
I eat that turkey Then I take a nap

Thanksgiving is a special night
Jimmy Walker used to say Dynomite
That's right
Turkey with gravy and cranberry
Can't believe the Mets
traded Darryl Strawberry
Turkey for you and
Turkey for me
Can't believe Tyson
Gave that girl V.D.

White meat, dark meat
You just can't lose
I fell off my moped
And I got a bruise
Turkey in the oven
And the buns in the toaster
I'll never take down
My Cheryl Tiegs poster
Wrap the turkey up
In aluminum foil
My brother like to masturbate
With baby oil
Turkey and sweet potato pie
Sammy Davis Jr.
Only had one eye

Turkey for the girls and
Turkey for the boys
My favorite kind of pant
Are corduriys
Gobble gobble goo and
Gobble gobble gickel
I wish turkey
Only cost a nickel
Oh I love turkey on Thanksgiving

[sbj405]

29. Guilt-free gluttony

[Ivan Sputnik]

30. It's the only major quasi-religious holiday that everyone celebrates

because it's not specifically tied to one religion.

[Xithras]

35. Bingo!

Everyone likes Thanksgiving. Christians celebrate it, as do Muslims, Jews, and atheists. It's a nice, generic holiday where we get to see our families and (in theory) pause to appreciate our fortune. It's also the only holiday that both brings families together AND doesn't cost a lot of money for gifts and stuff.

[Conan_The_Barbarian]

31. We like celebrating

I mean give us any reason somewhat decent reason and we'll go with it!

[qnr]

32. We're just a country that loves turkeys. This is evident in our politics,

television, etc.

[LynneSin]

33. Thanksgiving has to be my second favorite holiday (Easter is #1)

I like Thanksgiving because I don't have to buy any gifts but I get to see all of my family. And the meals are fricking amazing!

But it only ranks second to Easter. Easter rules because when that holiday comes around it means it's Spring. And I love giving gifts at Easter because no one expects them then!

[StellaBlue]

34. IMHO

It's because we are so overcommercialized.

And why the HELL is it only a month before Christmas? Having been living in England for the past four holiday 'seasons', I have to say, it does seem even more odd than every to be celebrated a day with a turkey, cranberry sauce, etc. TWICE within THIRTY DAYS.

We are some weird folks.

I just like the football. But I have to work Friday and miss Texas kick A&M's sheep-loving ass! boo-hoo!

[sakabatou]

37. It's one day where we don't care about Greed...

for food that is.

[carpetbagger]

40. Don't forget hunting.

In the northern states, the week before or after Thanksgiving is traditionally the big week for deer hunting. So in many states, like Pennsylvania and West Virginia, everything grinds to a complete halt in rural areas.

It's not as big a factor as 4 days off, start of Christmas, and a mandatory feast for hunter and non-hunter alike, but it's another factor.

As you approach the Mexican border, however, it's actually Easter that replaces Thanksgiving as the major travelling holiday of the year, and down here it's Easter week when everything shuts down.

[pitohui]

41. it's a holiday all about the food

we usa-ians are a very food oriented people, it is the way of our people, don't try to understand it, just accept it

binge, purge, diet, obsess, FEAST!

it is just what we do