On Thursday, many of us will be talking turkey and dressing and all the wondrous side dishes, and we will join family and friends at table, and hopefully remember to sing praises of Thanks for all our abundance. And, instead of worrying about the flat soufflé or the forgotten cranberry dish, we will, each in our own style, find the best way to reach out and generously share our incredible abundance with those outside our normal realms of comfort.
Well, that is the unvarnished dream.
Thanksgiving is a holiday unique to America. Is it harvest time? Is it historically accurate? Is it steeped in religion, ethnicity, regionalism? No, to all of the above. It is just something that happens in all the different geographic, social and economic regions across America.
However, with the increasing stated need in this country that consumers must carry the economic burden of maintaining our current (and some would say excessive) lifestyle, it is important that consumers focus on their buying needs. So, all the Christmas sale bargains, extensive hours and over-the-top enticements have started this year, well before we, the consumers, will sit down with our family and friends at the Thanksgiving feast.
We can wail and thrash and curse at all this obvious consumerism. We can also make very personal decisions about how we care to participate in this seasonal blur of activity. I find some of it quite wonderful. All the lighting displays, by our merchants and at our homes, are a powerful antidote to the waning of the light in our far northern atmosphere. It reminds me of the Scandinavian traditions of the candle in the window, lighting the way home for seafarers.
On Dec. 7, the merchants on Queen Anne Avenue will celebrate, from 3 to 7 p.m., with their own special holiday celebrations. I always love to walk the Avenue on these nights - it has now been 14 years that the merchants have made this evening so special for our community.
But, first we need to gather at the Thanksgiving table and celebrate the American tradition of feasting with family and friends. And, please, try to not forget the cranberry sauce.
- Madeleine Wilde
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