changing seasons

Thanksgiving Day is not just about the turkey… or the American History… or family gathering. No, Thanksgiving Day is not just about being grateful about good harvest and the blessings. Thanksgiving Day is also about Macy’s and Black Friday too.

Yep! Black Friday is synonymous to Thanksgiving Day. Black Friday is the aftermath of Thanksgiving Day. And in my personal opinion and based on my observation, people get stuffed with food from the Thanksgiving meal to prepare them for the long wait at the stores like Macy’s, Walmart and Best Buys [just to name a few] that will open at 12 midnight or 5 in the morning. Hahahaha. Of course I am just joking.

But seriously, I can’t help but notice that during the Thanksgiving meal, my step-daughters and in-laws were talking about “sale this and sale that”. During the Thanksgiving meal, they were already talking about the Christmas presents that they wanted to buy for each member of the family. During the Thanksgiving meal, they were already comparing wish list. And after Thanksgiving Day meal they were getting ready to go to the store and wait till the store opens.

Photo courtesy of CBBC Newsround

Likewise, somewhere out of the State of Maine… somewhere more specific like… New York… a festive parade was held. A parade that New Yorkers and foreigners alike are looking forward to every Thanksgiving Day. A parade that shows that the we should be grateful… for the good harvest… for the blessings… and for Macy’s. A parade that signals that Black Friday is a day to be grateful for because, all items at Macy’s are on sale. Consumers should be grateful that they can buy their Christmas wish lists at discounted prices - 50% or 75% off. And consumers should be thankful because Thanksgiving Day is not complete without Macy’s Parade.

Oh well, we indeed have lots of reasons to be thankful for. We should be thankful that we have some money to spend for Black Friday despite the ailing economy and recession. We should be thankful for Black Friday because after all Christmas will never be postponed.

Additional Information:
Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade
Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade History

Photo/Video Credits:
CBBC Newsround
Watch You Tube of Charice @ Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade in New York

Thanksgiving Day is a big thing here in the US. It’s a non-working holiday and celebrated all over the states. Some schools have Thanksgiving Break too, so it must be really really important. This is the season to celebrate as a family. This is the season to enjoy family meals. And this is the season to catch up and be as a family again. This is the season where people are grateful for the good harvest and the many blessings they received from the Almighty.

Thanksgiving Day is one of the special occasions where the American people celebrate and uphold family traditions with high regards to history… family values… and shopping [LOL]. Just like Halloween and Christmas, they also have some Thanksgiving decorations especially in the dinner tables. They usually make or buy festive stuff for the tables to make it more special… to make food more appetizing… to make the occasion more extra-ordinary.

Thanksgiving Day is a special moment where family members gather in the dinner table, sit and eat together as a family again. With the kind of lifestyle they have here now where all members of the family need to work, they don’t find time to sit together and eat as a family. And thanksgiving is one rare chance to do that. This is the season to enjoy turkey, pumpkin desserts and other special recipes handed down from generation to generation.

Thanksgiving Day is a special day because it is homecoming season too for family members who live far from home. This is the time where grown-up children [those who are away for school or work or because they already have their own families] think about home. This is the time when the only place they wanted to be is home [I supposed]. This is the time where parents look forward to see their children again.

This is my second Thanksgiving Day here in the US. We don’t have Thanksgiving Day in the Philippines so my idea of this special occasion is limited to what I experienced here with my new family and my personal observations on this special celebration as a whole. Happy Thanksgiving Day to All!

Additional Information:
The History of Thanksgiving
The First Thanksgiving

Photo Credit:
Sharp Iron

As I have said… we don’t officially celebrate Halloween in the Philippines. What we celebrate in the Philippines is All Saints’ Day. It is celebrated on the 1st day of November. All Saint’s Day is a day to commemorate our dearly departed. It is always declared as a non-working Holiday so people can pay their respect to their departed loved ones and take that traditional trip to the cemeteries.

All Saint’s Day is more religious in background. The Philippines being predominantly a Christian country follows a lot of religious customs and tradition and one of them is paying respect and praying for the souls of our loved ones. That is why we celebrate Halloween in the cemeteries during All Saint’s Day sans the costumes.

Kids gathering melted candles to turn into wax ball. [Photo Credit: Chris Gregerson]

The cemeteries during this religious celebration are mayhem of festivities. The cemeteries are the happiest place in the country during this time of the year. The cemeteries are the best place to hang out and turn into rendezvous places for people to catch up with the latest news among friends and families.

But prior to the celebration, there are lots of preparations to make. Just like here in the US before Halloween stores are also loading and overflowing with stocks of goodies for All Saint’s Day most specifically… candles. Lots and lots of candles are for sale. Candles in different colors, shapes, sizes and scents too. Candles are very important during this holiday because we bring them to the cemetery to light them up in the tombs. The cemeteries are bright and burning, literally and figuratively.

Aside from the candles, flowers in all varieties, colors, sizes and scents are also on display and are overwhelmingly expensive. Flowers are essential part of the celebration just like the candles. Flowers and candles are the handsome couples of the celebration. They are inseparable. They can’t be divorced from each other. They always go together and can’t be one or the other.

Prior to the celebration, the cemeteries are also prepared at least a week ahead. People go to the cemeteries to clean the tombs. They have to remove weeds growing around the tomb. They have to scrub the tombs. And they have to paint the tombs white. Oh well, this painting of the tombs are common in provinces where they have the traditional public cemeteries and not the modern memorial parks.

Religious Women offering prayers for the souls of the dearly departed. [Photo Credit: AP Photo by Aaron Favila]

And for the final detail of the celebration, offering of masses and prayers for the souls of the departed loved ones is the most important thing that will never be left out. There are some religious people that can say specific prayers for the soul and they would go around the tombs if you would like prayers said for your loved ones. In our case, I usually do it myself. I would pray the rosary and read special prayers from prayer books.

And lastly, All Saints Day is not just about the dead. It is also about the living. This is the time of the year where we usually meet again our relatives who live in the cities. This is a time for family get-together. This is the time for remembering the people we love and who once were very much in our presence. But most importantly, this is the time to celebrate life and appreciate those people who are still very much in our presence.

Additional Information:
All Saints Day
More Detailed Information on How to Celebrate All Saints Day in the Philippines
More Photos and Write up about All Saints day by Liza’s Eyeview