Thursday, November 24, 2011

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.

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