Today is Thanksgiving in the island of Lewis. Our Thanksgiving has nothing in common with the American Thanksgiving, other than the name. Here, people give thanks for the riches of the land that were harvested this year. It is not dissimilar to the English harvest festival, which takes place in September. Our climate being what it is, harvest is brought in later in the Hebrides.
When I first arrived in Lewis, shops shut at lunchtime, children were off school for the day and people would attend church for La na Ceistean - the Day of Questions, from the catechism. Nowadays, life proceeds as normal. Except this year, the kids are off school - but this time because the teachers are on strike.
Thanksgiving is not known in the United Kingdom outwith this island (other than the American version), but the following day is. Adverts have been bombarding us with Black Friday deals. When BF first reared its ugly head, a few years ago, it lead to fights in shops.
Anyway, whichever way you observe Thanksgiving, have a good day.
