It is not insanely commercial as Xma$

Huh ?

In 1939, FDR fought opposition to move Thanksgiving from the last Thursday to the third Thursday in November, to extend the Christmas shopping season. In 1941, the realization that there was little difference in retail sales figures between the states that celebrated Thanksgiving early and those that clung to the traditional holiday inspired Congress and FDR to permanently fix the date on the fourth (not the last) Thursday of November.

- which makes it lovely in my immigrant view.

Trust immigrants to feel comfortable being a part of a “damned Yankee institution”.

Thanksgiving must be the most confused and controversy ridden holiday ever. That said, the Thanksgiving weekend is very welcome, thank you very much.

Out of all the above, the only one not overtly Christian and where one does not purchase gifts or props or anything not consummable immediately is Thanksgiving. Which is also the only one geared towards the family as a cohesive unit [something us thirdworlders appreciate]. Add the fact that it participates so intriguingly into the tradition-making memory of the state.
The blithe condemnation of this damned yankee institution gets the immigrant no where. Much more fruitful, to bring up the history of the tradition at the table and insist on serving cornish game hen. As I did.

Aamir: you DEF. need to fast less and feast more.e

ps. answer my q below please.

I liken Thanksgiving to the firing of the starter pistol: the consumerist orgy begins the day after Thanksgiving.

Add the fact that it participates so intriguingly into the tradition-making memory of the state.

Which tradition do you mean ? Some call it a harvest festival, others call it an expression of equality, some others call it a religious event, and still others in the South condemn it as games silly Yankees play.

The blithe condemnation of this damned yankee institution gets the immigrant no where.

That sentence of mine was supposed to be read with a fine Southern drawl. Y’all will know that them brown immigrants are spoilin’ the landscape.

(I’m merely playing the devil’s advocate here – not everyone wants the immigrant to call himself American)

There will always be some who will never accept the immigrant. When a fellow minority American (not a desi, but say Chinese or African American) asks me where I’m from, they usually expect to hear the town in USA I am from. But, answering Pittsburgh, doesn’t satisfy or outright suprises the white supremist – who usually wants to hear me say Madras.