Monday, October 12, 2009

Alternatives to Columbus Day

There are those who find the marking of Columbus Day an offense on various grounds. The objection is the decimation of indigenous cultures that resulted. If you are among those who find this American holiday an affront I have some other suggestions.

Just north of the border in Canada it is Thanksgiving. So allow me to greet my Canadian readers with a "Happy Thanksgiving."

In Malawi it is Mother's Day.

In Equatorial Guinea it is Independence Day.

In Brazil it is Children's Day.

In Spain it is National Day.

In the U.S.A it is also marked as Freethought Day which commemorates the end of the Salem Witch Trials.

If those holidays don't pique your interest you could commemorate some other things that occurred on this date in history.

In 1773 America's first insane asylum was opened in Virginia.

In 1810 the first Oktoberfest was held.

In 1823 Charles Macintosh sold the first raincoat.

However, none of these is my personal favorite with regard to October 12. That would be reserved for the year 1968 when Hugh Jackman and I were born on opposite sides of the Earth.

Also, in 2005 I gave myself this blog. Thanks to each one of you who has made sharing this corner of the blogosphere so much fun for me over the last 4 years.

I think to celebrate I shall give thanks to my mother in Spanish, declare my independence, hug my kids and a wiccan, act crazy enough to make people consider committing me, and wear a raincoat. If anyone would like to arrange for Hugh and me to share part of the day raising a glass to each other that would be the icing on my cake.

Since that seems a wee tad unlikely I'll just share some of the cake my mom made for me.

22 comments:

Mark Leslie said...

Happy Birthday to you and Hugh. And my apologies for not sending a card commemorating the end of the Salem Witch Trials.

misticblu said...

Happy Birthday!!
Beautiful cake. I hope your day is grand!!

Cliff said...

And a happy one to you. And that cake looks delicious.
My birthday is in 18 days. Can your mom send one of those to Ohio?

Craver Vii said...

Aaah raincoats. Oh, and happy birthday! Ooh, that cake looked great! I raise a mug (of coffee) to you today.

Desmond Jones said...

Happy Birthday, my friend!

You were born two days after the seventh game of the '68 World Series - one of the happiest times of my young life. . .

And next year is the bicentennial Oktoberfest? That is an occasion truly worth celebrating!

But listen, just between you and me and the lamppost, I think there's plenty to celebrate about Columbus Day, even if it isn't unmixed with grief; life is a lot like that, eh?

And, um, that is one fine-looking cake. Can you send me a piece?

Anonymous said...

I certainly hope Hugh apprciates the honor of sharing your day with him. I think he owes you a debt of thanx...

for a different kind of girl said...

Cake AND sharing a birthday with Hugh Jackman?! How lucky can you get? I mean, besides having Hugh Jackman show up at your front door and singing 'Happy Birtday' to you?!

Have a fantastic day! Happy birthday!

S said...

Happy Birthday AND a Joyous Indigenous Peoples day to you!


Todays headline:

San Francisco Celebrates America's Indigenous People


Ol' Chris was quite the rampaging murdering pig as I hear it told. It is not a school holiday anymore either.



Happy Birthday and that cake looks fabulous.

EmBee said...

Happy, Happy B'day Lime... And hey, my b'day is Thursday... Think your mom can send some of that delicious looking cake my way?

Yumm-Oh!

Logophile said...

Happy Birthday to you,
Happy Birthday to you,
Happy Birthday darling Limeyyyyyyy
Happy Birthday to you!

and many more

~Dragonfly~* said...

Didn't you already do all those things at the fair?!!? With the exception of scoring with Hugh, that is. I believe he came in the form of a carnie!!

Happy Birthday Lime... may you share many more!!

Hilary said...

Wishing you the happiest of birthdays ! I kind of expected your cake to be more like key lime pie but mother knows best. Send her my way anytime! Happy Birthday. :)

clean and crazy said...

happy double birthday!! congratulations and hope you find Hugh soon!! If i knew where to find him I would send him to you!!!

Moosekahl said...

Happy Happy Birthday!!! That cake looks even better sliced into big ole pieces!

Oh yeah...in South Dakota today is Native American Day.

(M)ary said...

In 1823 Charles Macintosh sold the first raincoat.

ok. that seems to be worth celebrating around here as it has been raining so much i am beginning to build an ark...

Minerva said...

Happy birthday!

I suddenly have a craving for red velvet cake....

Mike Golch said...

Cliff,said to come over and wish you a happy birthday.the red velvet cake looks yummy!

secret agent woman said...

A very Happy Birthday to you!!!

Jim said...

A big tight Happy Birthday hug and sloppy kiss to you, and I'm sorry to have missed it.

I'm thinking it would be more appropriate to use Columbus Day to celebrate the fact that we don't know everything . . . National Learn Something New Everyday Day.

As Columbus himself said, 417 years ago . . . "Holy crap, there's a whole other continent over here. Boys, we need to get out more."

[I'm paraphrasing, but the basic translation from the late-15th-c. Genoese is correct, I think.]

XO

p.s. --- Are we finding it ironic at all that the first nut house was in VA? ;-)

~Tim said...

Hope it was a great day! And that cake looks yummy!

Jocelyn said...

Poodle, it's a gorgeous cake, and, OKAY, you can have Hugh on your birthday. Share him with your lovely mom--and rub all other folks' faces in the fact of his existence on your couch, with your feet in his lap.

Jazz said...

Happy belated birthday Lime!!!