Explaining Thanksgiving...

Now that the rush of Thanksgiving is over, I have a moment to reflect on the holiday and what it means. Not in the way you think, though. But more like, what the heck is it anyway.

This was brought home to me before I left Australia to come back to The Porch for the holiday. A person in the room there wished me a Happy Thanksgiving while I was at home. Casual enough wish here in the US, but definitely learned behavior (almost wrote "behaviour" there!) in The Land Down Under.

Here is an actual conversation I had right before I left:

Me: "Thanks, guy! I'm looking forward to some turkey and cranberry sauce, too!"

Aussie 1: "I've heard that."

Me: "Yes, it's a tradition from the first Thanksgiving."

Aussie 2: (joining in) "First Thanksgiving?"

Me: "Yeah! You know: 1621. The Mayflower. The Pligrims. Indians and the first harvest."

Aussie 1: "Pilgrims?"

By now there is complete silence is in the room and I'm standing there with about 15 pairs of Australian eyes turned on me like a particularly succulent meat pie.

Me: (laughing uncomfortably) "Ummm. They came from England and landed at Plymouth Rock."

(blank stares)

Me: (continuing) "You know, in Massachusetts. And they wore black wide-brimmed hats. Big white collars and, ummm, buckle... shoes." (fading into silence)

By then I was really hoping for a stampede of kangaroos in the room or something to divert their attention from the American fairy tale it seemed I was spinning.

That or they were just jealous of our traditions. Yeah, that's it.

- Farmer Ted.