In many parts of the Northern Hemisphere, autumn is still under way at the beginning of November. A number of highly coloured leaves still cling to the trees. It can be wet and windy but not really cold yet. By the end of the month the trees are bare and its cold! For a week or more, I have not ventured out without winter clothing.

In the Southern Hemisphere, of course, spring is well and truly sprung, like May here.

As always, it has been an action packed month. Here are some of the more notable events. November 1 is All Saints Day, formerly All Hallows Day. Thus Halloween, the evening before, now opens the month. November 2 is All Souls Day, Día de los Muertos(Day of the Dead) in Mexico, where the whole month of November is especially dedicated to praying for the dead. Britain and New Zealand celebrate Guy Fawkes Night, the anniversary of the failed Gunpowder Plot, on November 5. In Indonesia, November 10 is known as National Heroes Day. Remembrance Day is celebrated on November 11 in the Commonwealth of Nations and various European countries(including France and Belgium) to commemorate World War 1 and other wars. It is known as Veterans’ Day in the United States. In India, Children’s Day is celebrated on November 14, the birthdate of  India’s first Prime Minister, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru. On November 19, 1493, Christopher Columbus discovered Puerto Rico. Día de la Revolución, or Revolution Day, is celebrated in Mexico on November 20. Transgender Day of Remembrance has occurred on November 20 each year in the United States since 1999. The United States and Puerto Rico observe Thanksgiving on the fourth Thursday in November. For Christians, Advent begins on a Sunday in the last week in November. Scotland celebrates St Andrews Day, its official national day, on November 30. It has been an official bank holiday since 2006.

So a nip of good Scotch whisky is in order today, because tomorrow we must dust off our Santa hats and our cheesiest grins, and go forth and be jolly, at any expense. Tis the season!

Originating post: november done

My memories of Thanksgivings past when living in the US, include a tradition of everyone at the table being given a chance to say what they are thankful for this year, before the feasting begins.

We do well to recall our successes, big and small, and the joyful times we have experienced. Looking back over a year, surely everyone has some positive memories, even in the midst of great suffering. Once we focus on the good things, the list grows surprisingly quickly.

Living in the UK, where complaining seems to be the order of the day, it is all too easy to forget. Our sainted media thrives on digging up dirt and picking holes in everything. But then it has long been established that good news doesnt sell.

Unlike its beleaguered cousin Christmas, Thanksgiving is not much tainted by commerce. There is no extravagant gift buying. All that is given is thanks, to each other and to God, for the abundance of good things we have.

Originating post: thanksgiving

Why does this still affect me? Its not that I want to rush out and buy all this crap, but rather that I feel guilty because I don’t want to. The arch winks and sly grins of a high sheen cast of glamour cats and kittens, would have me give in to their blandishments and START SPENDING MONEY!!

I have lived with this contradictory attitude for years. Like millions, I know perfectly well that the origins of Christmas have nothing to do with money, yet each year I wind up spending more than I can afford. Which means that the commercial pressure on us all works on me whether I like it or not.

What irks so many of us is how early the campaign begins. By the end of October it is in full swing.

How refreshing it would be if we could contrive to ban all mention of the impending feast till, say, December 15. No gift buying, no plans, no advertising, and no preparation of any kind. This would free us up to have a last minute, chaotic, spontaneous good time of our own devising. The best parties often happen this way. Sadly the forces of commerce, overwhelming as they are, would never go for it.

Years ago I used to do all my shopping on Christmas Eve. It was exciting, hair-raising and a party in itself. Might I humbly suggest that any number of us can quite happily resist all this profit seeking hoo-ha, and keep what little money we have firmly in our pockets. If enough people did it, we could bring the greedy bastards to their knees.

To usurp Nancy Reagan’s famous slogan, “Just Say No!”

Originating post: just say no