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Of Grace And Gratitude
Written By: William McReynolds | Issue: November 2024
William’s correct – this is the “Season of Mellow Fruitfulness!”
Welcome November!
Our fall harvest is still coming in and winter crops – fresh carrots, kale, spinach, broccoli and, my favorite, Brussels sprouts – are upon us.
There is also a Fall Harvest of Beauty. The flora is in afterglow of spring and summer: the reds deepen, the colors become more saturated, more sincere. Beauty overtakes “pretty” in autumn.
This entire month tilts in the direction of the fourth Thursday and the surrounding week of family, tradition, and feasting.
The day after Thanksgiving, Friday, November 29 this year, is an interesting day: an unencumbered holiday for many and the sudden beginning of the shopping season before the merriment of December. I have no idea why this day is called Black Friday, unless it is the black ink of profit that flows for retailers. Perhaps it refers to the blacklined sales tickets slashing prices. The following Monday is called Cyber Monday referring to the online retail market. Such is November.
This original American holiday celebrating Grace with Gratitude, featuring on many tables the centerpiece of a roasted American bird with all the trimmings, is now recognized worldwide. Proud restaurants in Europe, for instance, will serve you a turkey dinner on our Thanksgiving Day. A Day of Gratitude seems like a worthy idea in foreign lands as well as at home.
There are other interesting things about this month. November as a name is a complete misnomer. As you know, It comes from the Latin root for ninth, taken from the old Roman calendar in which it was the nineth month of the year. With the advent of the Gregorian calendar and the addition of January and February, the nineth month became the eleventh month making September, from the Latin septim for seven, the nineth month. So, 9 is 11 and 7 is 9. None of this human comedy matters as human wisdom tells us that “a rose by any other name still smells sweet.” November is a rose. Besides, who wants a month named Undecim, Latin for eleven.
Happy Undecim or November or whatever you want to call it. This month begins the season of gratitude, tradition, merriment, and hope. How sweet it is.
