November 23, 2011

White Dog and The White Dog Army
Wonderful World Wednesday

White Dog, my philosopher, finds it amusing that humans cannot just express love or thanks or generosity without choosing and naming a special day to warrant the action. Why, for example, she asks do humans need a Valentine’s Day to tell those they care about that they love them? Dogs and cats and the rest of the animal world just act without being prompted by proclamations.

Quinn, my more practical boy, nuzzles her and counters that it is better to have ONE day when people are motivated to kindness and gratitude even if it is by calendar mandate, than no days.

On that note, the White Dog Army agrees that the idea of a special day to give Thanks is part of what makes a wonderful world. Thanksgiving is a gesture celebrated all over the world. It celebrates communal harmony. Though it is said to have been originated in America, a number of other countries celebrate harvest related festivals. They are observed with different names and in different seasons but all are characterized with lot of fun and merrymaking…and sharing.

Each region has its unique customs and traditions to jubilate the occasion. Canada celebrates thanksgiving on the second Monday in the month of October. India also has a number of harvest related festivals in different regions. Popular regional festivals are Pongal, Baisakhi, Lohri, Onam etc. Though the underlying principle behind each of them is same, every festival is exclusive and different from the other. Asian countries such as China, Malaysia, and Korea celebrate the festival on different dates. Each festival has a folklore attached to it. Harmony, peace, feeling gratitude is the underlying theme of the celebration all over. Humans seem to have a need to ritualize thankfulness.

In November 1997, as a communal effort to reunite people all over the world, the millennium year 2000 was proclaimed as the 'International year of Thanksgiving' by the United Nations. This was first time ever that the general assembly voted unanimously in favor of a spiritual idea. The idea behind the declaration was to spread peace, harmony and brotherhood. Since that year, the idea of creating an annual global day of Thanksgiving has become an international movement.

Tomorrow, Thanksgiving Day here in the United States, The White Ones hope that the importance of the day will not be forgotten amidst the feasting, football, shopping, and indulgence. Even with the calendar to remind us, humans sometimes are sidetracked. We ask that each of you help to make the world a little more wonderful, a little more grateful, and a little more compassionate by focusing on the reason behind it all.

As you gather and make merry, take a moment to hold paws and hands… send thanks to the Universe for the goodness and bounty in your life (no matter how difficult life seems there IS goodness and bounty)… ask for blessings to be showered on those without shelter or food or friends or hope…

And know that all of us: Siku Marie, The Mighty Quinn, Nuka Angel, Puff the Magical, YoYoMa, Michael, Steve and I are thanking the Universe that each of you shares and enriches our lives. It IS a wonderful world!

May your Thanksgiving be filled with joy and love.