Charlie X : KIRK: On Earth today, it's Thanksgiving. If the crew has to eat synthetic meat loaf, I want it to look like turkey. I have always wondered if they celebrate on the Canadian Thanksgiving day in October or the American Thanksgiving day in November ?
Or both. Plus Hannukah, Diwali, Ramadan and Easter etc etc etc. I got the feeling that SF was multicultural and inclusive. And all major cultural and religious festivals would be recognised in an appropriate way. Of course that could get complex in a mixed sentient species ship!!
Especial if Neelix was in charge of morale. For most of the crew, they're stuck on the ship for months on end in a day in day out drudge. Only a few go on landing parties, "shore leave" might be to a space station (a different big metal box), and they're a long way from home. Something to pull their minds away from duty, remind them that (with exceptions) they're Human beings who come from a people with a rich history, they're spiritual beings, and they can have the awareness that back home their families are celebrating the same holidays with the same rituals and similar food. So break out the ugly Christmas sweater, and head down to the rec room.
Celebrating Earth holidays will boost human morale or depress them because they are away from families?
Don't feel bad, as it has no set "date". Rather, it is celebrated upon the third Thursday in November, meaning the "date" kinda' "floats" from one year to the next.
Actually, various cultures currently and throughout history have had some kind of harvest-time festival/celebration/ritual that involve demonstration of thankfulness in some form or another. Kor
I love that picture, GNDN of Shatner and Harris taken at an airport I believe in the sixties! Neither look like they were interested in the other and seem to want to both disappear as quick as possible! JB