Thanksgiving

[Eulaliaaa!]

Well...

But seriously. Does anyone eat artichokes with Thanksgiving turkey? Or with any turkey at all?

[Ashleg]

I don't.

I also don't eat artichokes with anything, or alone.
Ha

[Cornflower MM]

I don't.

I also don't eat artichokes with anything, or alone.
Ha

Same. Never had an artichoke.

That picture still makes me sad. . . . .

[LT Sandpaw]

The turkey picture makes you sad?

[Eulaliaaa!]

You've never had artichokes?! You poor souls, how could you never have had artichokes? It's simple, just boil them and drench the ends of the leaves in butter. AND EAT THE HEART!

[Cornflower MM]

The turkey picture makes you sad?

Yes it does. Possibly because I've wanted a pet turkey for years.

You've never had artichokes?! You poor souls, how could you never have had artichokes? It's simple, just boil them and drench the ends of the leaves in butter. AND EAT THE HEART!

I think I had an artichoke and spinach dip once?  Also that sounds. . . . .Painful.

[Eulaliaaa!]

Painful? Artichokes don't feel pain when you eat their heart, they're artichokes!

[Cornflower MM]

Hrrmph.

[Ashleg]

Artichokes do feel pain.

[Eulaliaaa!]

Only when you don't eat their heart.

[Wylder Treejumper]

What's Thanksgiving?

@Lord Ashenwyte: Since nobody seems willing to answer this question correctly, I will. Thanksgiving is a very old American tradition. It is traditionally connected back to an event in the mid 1600's, when Puritan Pilgrim settlers and Wampanoag Indians (Native Americans, if you prefer) were allies. They had a feast together to celebrate the harvest. However, Thanksgiving itself is connected with old Christian religious practices, wherein special days would be called to worship God and give thanks for some special blessing, and it is from these more particularly that the holiday is historically connected to. The first modern thanksgiving was proclaimed in Massachusetts, a "day of general thanksgiving," in the 1700s.
The traditional holiday in America is religious- Christian in origin, but not exclusive to Christians. It is regarded as a special day, one to take apart from normal work and play to give thanks for the many everyday blessings which we too often take for granted. What we have in our day is all too often taken for granted. These computers we use to communicate can send messages anywhere in the world in a fraction of a second. Is it not wonderful? In past times, it would have gone by horse, by carriage, by steamboat, or by sailing ship, with a turnaround time of months, yet we fret at delays of a few seconds. We have an abundance of food at ready reach of our fingertips. In past times, it would have been common to live on one meal a day, and that but a poor repast of potatoes we dug from the land with our fingertips. Yet we are angry because our food is slightly less fresh than we might wish it to be, or is all the way at the supermarket! We enjoy freedoms those in less civilized ages could hardly conceive: freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom from slavery or servitude, freedom of opportunity. We can participate in the political process, we are recognized as individual human beings with intrinsic worth! Surely there is thanks to be given for these- yet how often think we of it? It is a time for families to gather, and to spend time appreciating each other. Some of us may dislike or disagree with our families. And yet, it would be wise to remember that there are those who have no families at all...
It is a time to remember our ancestors. A time to recall our history. A time to contemplate our future. There has been much ridicule of the holiday on this thread for the Pilgrims' treatment of the Wampanoag tribe. But it should be remembered that at Thanksgiving, we celebrate the peace and concord between those two vastly different societies, not the misunderstandings between them. Thanksgiving is, and ought to be, a celebration the harmony of American society. We have enough divisiveness without needing to cause more.
A less prominent feature of Thanksgiving is the charitable work done in its vicinity. Every year around Thanksgiving. Americans donate thousands of tons of food to charities, volunteer in food banks or homeless shelters, and do other charitable work. It is but another small part of giving thanks for blessings: helping others to enjoy blessings we have, but they lack.


So. There's my Ode to Thanksgiving. I hope you all enjoyed this overly-researched and overly expressive essay to one of the most underrated holidays.

[Eulaliaaa!]

Thank you, Wylder, for clearing that up. I hadn't noticed no one had actually answered that.

[Lady Ashenwyte]

Thanks, Wylder.

[Ashleg]

Happy Thanksgiving!

[Eulaliaaa!]

Happy Thanksgiving, everybody. Hopefully you're all enjoying a day with your families, taking the time to be thankful for what you have, and eating amazing food with the people you love. We gather like this only one day a year, so don't let this day pass without a little laughter and joy. We're all privileged and blessed, and if everybody took the time to recognize that fact more often, this world would be a happier place. So have a great Thanksgiving and get ready for Christmas