It’s the most wonderful time of the year…

Posted by Kate G. in US Election 2008.

I think Election Day may be up there as one of my favorite holidays. Strangely enough, it seems to have a good deal in common with my other favorites. Let’s see what crazy links I can make betwixt three seemingly unrelated holidays and then try to bring it all back to how important it is to vote. Wish me luck!

In addition to E-Day, I love two other holidays like no other: Halloween and Thanksgiving.  I think Christmas music is fun but the holiday has been ruined. Easter has the worst candy of any holiday, so they’re out of the running, too. Valentine’s Day preys on your guilt and your wallet (much like Christmas) and Independence Day is obnoxious.

So what do Election Day, Thanksgiving and Halloween have in common? Besides being the most exciting (new president? overeating while watching football? free CANDY?!), they are all purely and uniquely American.

Yep, I said it. Someone from “Imaginary America” actually enjoys holidays because they are celebrated in America and nowhere else. No, I haven’t been brainwashed into extreme holiday nationalism by McSane and Flailin’. But the fact that these three holidays aren’t celebrate in other countries as they are here makes me feel like we’re doing something right.

Though it began in Brittany, France, and then came to the US, we totally own Halloween now. No one else does Thanksgiving, and even if they tried they couldn’t get the gluttony down pat as we have.  But Election Day?

Other countries vote, right? Sure. But it’s not the international spectacle that our elections have become. Here, it’s always a surprise: will the votes even get counted? Will there be another scandal? Is “The Terminator” really the governor of a real state? Watching our elections is like watching a sitcom. Or a circus.

In short, Election Day is awesome, American, ridiculous, and I can’t wait to be a part of it. Get your ipod, bring a book, and see you at the polls!

US Election 2008 |