Surviving (and Thriving) on Fandom Island, Week 10 (Wed., Period 3)
There was a turkey following Tahiri around the classroom today -- not a real one, but a small wind-up toy, nowhere near actual size. From her resigned expression, it might be easy enough to infer that it had been following her around all day and she'd given up trying to discourage it.
"Thanksgiving's coming up next week," she said, "or at least the American version of it, which is what the school will be celebrating. There are a lot of different holidays on Earth this time of year. A lot."
"Absurdity Day," Ghanima said helpfully, starting to tick things off on her fingers. "Thanksgiving, then either Black Friday or Buy Nothing Day, depending on your disposition. Then December has Hanukkah, the Winter Solstice, Mawlid Un Nabi, Christmas, and Boxing Day. January brings us the New Year's Eve, New Year's Day, Epiphany, Orthodox Christmas Day, Orthodox New Year, Martin Luther King Day, and Tu B’Shevat."
"Americans like their holidays, especially religious ones."
Tahiri chuckled. "No kidding. You don't have to be familiar with all of them, but I find it helps with perspective just to have an idea of how many there are, and how they may vary depending on region or culture."
"You also don't have to be religious to celebrate some of the more culturally dominant ones," Ghanima added. "Thanksgiving, Winter Solstice and Christmas are often celebrated secularly as well, by people who decide to celebrate the family and togetherness aspect rather than the religious, imperialist, or capitalist connotations."
Tahiri waved a finger in a vaguely circular gesture. "I found a pretty good song that touches on that concept," she said, and hit play on her datapad. When the song was done she grinned apologetically. "It was cute, I couldn't help it."
"It's far superior to the vast majority of holiday music that gets played at this time of year," Ghanima assured her (and the rest of the class). "Some of you may have already noticed stores playing music called 'Christmas carols.' Yes, I know it's not even Thanksgiving yet, but for some reason they always start right after Halloween. It's also now the season of the Christmas movies, which I confess, I still don't understand."
"Neither do I. I suspect part of it has to do with growing up on desert worlds," Tahiri suggested. "All of these Christmas movies seem to take place in places with snow, at least the ones I've seen."
She shrugged. "I think we'd be interested in hearing if any of your worlds have holidays with about the same level of significance much of this part of Earth tends to give to Christmas . . . and maybe ought to remember to give to other winter holidays too."
UGH, snow. If Ghanima had a thousand more lifetimes in her tau, she was still never going to understand the fascination with snow. "What are your feast days?" she she said, agreeing with Tahiri. "--and are there any Earth holidays you'd like to adopt permanently?"
"Thanksgiving's coming up next week," she said, "or at least the American version of it, which is what the school will be celebrating. There are a lot of different holidays on Earth this time of year. A lot."
"Absurdity Day," Ghanima said helpfully, starting to tick things off on her fingers. "Thanksgiving, then either Black Friday or Buy Nothing Day, depending on your disposition. Then December has Hanukkah, the Winter Solstice, Mawlid Un Nabi, Christmas, and Boxing Day. January brings us the New Year's Eve, New Year's Day, Epiphany, Orthodox Christmas Day, Orthodox New Year, Martin Luther King Day, and Tu B’Shevat."
"Americans like their holidays, especially religious ones."
Tahiri chuckled. "No kidding. You don't have to be familiar with all of them, but I find it helps with perspective just to have an idea of how many there are, and how they may vary depending on region or culture."
"You also don't have to be religious to celebrate some of the more culturally dominant ones," Ghanima added. "Thanksgiving, Winter Solstice and Christmas are often celebrated secularly as well, by people who decide to celebrate the family and togetherness aspect rather than the religious, imperialist, or capitalist connotations."
Tahiri waved a finger in a vaguely circular gesture. "I found a pretty good song that touches on that concept," she said, and hit play on her datapad. When the song was done she grinned apologetically. "It was cute, I couldn't help it."
"It's far superior to the vast majority of holiday music that gets played at this time of year," Ghanima assured her (and the rest of the class). "Some of you may have already noticed stores playing music called 'Christmas carols.' Yes, I know it's not even Thanksgiving yet, but for some reason they always start right after Halloween. It's also now the season of the Christmas movies, which I confess, I still don't understand."
"Neither do I. I suspect part of it has to do with growing up on desert worlds," Tahiri suggested. "All of these Christmas movies seem to take place in places with snow, at least the ones I've seen."
She shrugged. "I think we'd be interested in hearing if any of your worlds have holidays with about the same level of significance much of this part of Earth tends to give to Christmas . . . and maybe ought to remember to give to other winter holidays too."
UGH, snow. If Ghanima had a thousand more lifetimes in her tau, she was still never going to understand the fascination with snow. "What are your feast days?" she she said, agreeing with Tahiri. "--and are there any Earth holidays you'd like to adopt permanently?"