I am looking forward to this Thanksgiving. My brother is coming from Texas and has never met my family. So we are pulling out all the stops. He will be here on the 19th of Nov. and when he gets here the whole house will be decorated for Christmas. It seems really early, but we have never ever celebrated Christmas together. We can't wait to see him, but at least we will not be opening gifts...I will send them all back with him to open with his family. I will be having a very special Thanksgiving this year because of him.

Xmas has been in the stores over here for month. Come December, and the supermarkets will be selling hot Cross buns! I kid you not.

I am amazed. I always thought everyone in the USA made Thanksgiving such a big event, and that it was celebrated by everyone. But reading this topic, it does not seem so. I have always thought it was such a lovely thing for you to have, and a wonderful way to give thanks for the harvest and life.
Please explain to me what Black Friday is.

Really sad.

I love the holidays like anyone else. BUt I agree they are way to commercialized. Holloween has more recognision that Thanksgiving! Most companies or I'll say several...don't even recognize Easter as a holiday and won't pay holiday pay. Christmas? All about the money! If you think about it long ago back before Television thats when our major holidays were really appreciated for what they meant. Family meant everything, homemade gifts, the "reason for the season" was exactly right. Children played out of doors then, people were healthier and happier. Is progress really as successful as it sounds? I'm stopping...I long for the "Good Old Days". Hugs to all here, I think we need it.

Well, I'm making a list and checking it twice, but it is for Thanksgiving. Could be up to almost 40 people at my house this year. Old as I am, I'm still the youngest among my siblings and the only one with the space and ability. Our family still loves this holiday. I don't think I have ever been shopping on Black Friday.

Black Friday is the day after Thanksgiving. It was the tradional kick off of the Christmas shopping season, and the stores would begin to be "in the black" because so many of them are posting a loss on the books until then. Stores hold huge sales and open at ridiculously early hours. It is a complete madhouse, and people somtimes get crushed when the doors open. Doesn't that just put you in the Christmas mood!

I kind of appreciate the fact that Thanksgiving isn't viewed by the merchants as profitable...it's a heart thing, not a spending event. Sorry, I can never seem to get all my thoughts out at the same time.

The grocers like it almost as much as Halloween, but they don't decorate for it.

I love Thanksgiving. We can't travel very well, so if the kids come in, great, if not, I'll still buy a turkey and all the trimmings, bake two pies. make hors d'ouerves even if it is just for the two of us! I love the leftovers. And, I am so thankful for everything - I have a 94 year old mother, who is as sharp as a tack and still drives. I have two sisters and their families, we have friends who are there to help us if we need help and vice-versa, my husband survived both Hairy Cell Leukemia and Non-Hodgkins LYmphoma, Hepatitis, and various other things that I couldn't wish on my worst enemy. We thank God for all his Blessings, each day we have with each other, which peaked at 50 years of marriage this past June. We renewed our wedding vows and exchanged rings (so now we each have two wedding bands on, one for 1960 and one for 2010); yes, a lot to be thankful for. And if we are with a crowd of people or just us two, it still is a grand day. I am thankful that we live right here in the United States of America. And I am thankful for the Pilgrims who discovered PUmpkin Pie and Redi-Whip!!!!! Have a grand Thanksgiving, a good Macy's Day Parade and good football!!! Edie