Chew the Fat: Observing the Onset of Holiday Hullabaloo...

 

Redartz:  Well, it's Thanksgiving week here in the USofA, and it's a bit outside the usual (as everything seems to be this year). Preparations for the holiday season are underway, albeit with many adjustments for the ongoing pandemic. Anyway, it's got me thinking both backward and forward- about holiday preparations in the past, and what we're doing this year. 

 

Thanksgiving in our family was pretty much like many other families' observances. We had relatives over , or piled into Dad's car and hit the road. We kids didn't have much to do other than to watch the parades on tv all morning, while the adults worked on dinner. 

Dinner itself was traditional, Turkey, cranberry sauce, yams, green bean casserole and pumpkin pie. Of course this dinner was served on two tables, the 'Adult' table and the 'Kids' table. It was a source of personal accomplishment when I was finally able to sit at the table with the big folks...

 
 

 

 

 

 The day after Thanksgiving, known everywhere as
Black Friday, was also part of the tradition at our house. Each year we got up super early, drove to the Mall (often a big one in another town; our local mall was pretty modest). Once there we joined the throngs in shopping, lugging bags, awaiting seating space in the food court, and trying to recall where we had parked. Again, being kids, we didn't have the headache of writing the checks; we just enjoyed all the hubbub (and the window shopping, and the decorations...}.

 

 

Finally, one more Thanksgiving week tradition remained: putting up the Christmas decorations. Our family almost always did this the weekend immediately following Thanksgiving. Dad and Mom did most of it, but we youths were busily hanging ornaments on the lower branches, untangling strings of lights. and generally getting in the way.  It was chaotic, frequently messy, but always a blast.

 

Long story short, Thanksgiving at our house was a grand entry into the Holiday Season, and basically lasted from Thursday through Sunday. The excitement generated carried us through until New Year's. But what about this year? Again, like many households, ours will be doing things differently. A much smaller dinner. No plans for Black Friday shopping, although I may do some online browsing. However, I do plan to start decorating over the weekend. At least that much tradition can be retained!

 And now it's your turn. What memories do you have of Thanksgiving, and /or the Holiday Season in general (knowing that Thanksgiving is a US phenomenon, basically)? What traditions did your family have to prepare for the Season? And what are you doing this year? Personally, it's been quite a tough year, but  despite that (or perhaps because of it) I'm rather looking forward to the holidays more than usual. Like they sang in "Mame",  "we need a little Christmas, right this very minute...".  

Chew the Fat: Black Friday, Comic Style

Redartz:  Welcome to the Holiday Season, everyone! Now that Thanksgiving is behind us, retailers everywhere are literally working overtime to get us into the stores. "Black Friday", the traditional big kickoff to the Christmas shopping season, drives millions of dollars in sales. Of course, if you are one of those folks who have to brave the crowds, lines, and occasionally psychotic shoppers, Black Friday might not be your 'cup of eggnog'. 

So today, we will consider Black Friday from the perspective of our interest in comics. Here's the bit: 

You have one person to buy a gift for. You only know that this person has never read a comic or graphic novel before, but wishes to give one a try. So our little group here is heading to the Largest Comic Shop in the World, where they have Everything in four-color wonderment. Now, what one comic or graphic novel would you give for that all-important first experience?  And just to keep it within reason, we'll set a fifty dollar limit (so no purchases of Amazing Spider-Man number 1, sorry).

To start off: after much browsing and consideration, I'm selecting a graphic novel: Darwyn Cooke's "New Frontier". Wonderfully illustrated, very friendly to the eyes. The story also serves as a great introduction to DC's Silver Age heroes, and has enough historical reference to appeal to any student of culture. Now all I have to do is gift wrap it; that's the hard part..

Martinex1:  That's a challenging question and also a great gift choice on your part Redartz.   A dozen options run through my mind, but  I am going to grab something a bit low key: Essential Marvel Team-Up Volume 3.  It may be in black-in white, but it includes great Spidey stories with guest stars ranging from the X-Men to Warlock to Yellowjacket to Captain Britain.  It has plenty of Sal Buscema and John Byrne art with scripts by Conway, Mantlo, and Claremont.  I think it is a great primer for the uninitiated and makes the color versions seem that much more fantastic.  And typically found for under $20, that leaves room for other volumes or a fruit cake. 

Redartz:  A fine choice there, Martinex1! Some lucky recipient will get a great introduction to a lot of characters. Ah, we are approaching the checkout, gang. So what's in your basket?