Thanksgiving Triduum (of sorts)

We have different ways to mark beginnings and endings.  I declare Thanksgiving to be the beginning of the beginning of the year.  Usually the First Sunday in Advent is the Sunday after Thanksgiving.  While we have included Thanksgiving into our church calendar (sort of), it is not ours alone.  It belongs to everyone in the United States.  Other countries have their own versions.  I know the Native Americans will never look   upon Thanksgiving with deep favor.  And I*m pretty sure Black Friday will never get its own propers.  Still... there is gathering and ritual and a kind of newness in the air, even as we turn to winter.  I declare today to be the beginning of the beginning of the year.

Today marks the beginning

Of the beginning

Of the year.

I know

That*s officially

Another holiday.

Really It depends on who is talking.

I declare

Today is the beginning.

Today the stuffing is made with vegetable broth.

It will never see the inside of a turkey.

Today the particular jellied cranberry sauce

Will be decanted into a dish

In its can shape.

Today there will be pomegranate and pink grapefruit

In the salad,

Sweet potatoes with orange juice,

Mashed potatoes with butter,

And of course

Turkey and Tofurkey.

Today we will all claim a dish,

Taste everything

Whether it is our cup of tea

Or not.

Today we will sneak the Reddi-Wip

Before it goes on top

Of the pumpkin pie.

Today begins the Thanksgiving Triduum,

Followed by Black Friday,

Saturday of housecleaning

To prepare ourselves

For Advent.

I told you

Today is the beginning

Of the beginning

Of the year.

Soon and very soon

It all begins again.

In fact

It has already begun.