Happy Thanksgiving, Canada!

[McKenna]

Just wanted to wish my neighbors to the north a very pleasant day on Monday!

Happy Thanksgiving, eh!​

Here's a bit about Canadian Thanksgiving I found on the web:

History and Origin of Canadian Thanksgiving

In Canada Thanksgiving is celebrated on the second Monday in October. Unlike the American tradition of remembering Pilgrims and settling in the New World, Canadians give thanks for a successful harvest. The harvest season falls earlier in Canada compared to the United States due to the simple fact that Canada is further north.

The history of Thanksgiving in Canada goes back to an English explorer, Martin Frobisher, who had been trying to find a northern passage to the Orient. He did not succeed but he did establish a settlement in Northern America. In the year 1578, he held a formal ceremony, in what is now called Newfoundland, to give thanks for surviving the long journey. This is considered the first Canadian Thanksgiving. Other settlers arrived and continued these ceremonies. He was later knighted and had an inlet of the Atlantic Ocean in northern Canada named after him - Frobisher Bay.

At the same time, French settlers, having crossed the ocean and arrived in Canada with explorer Samuel de Champlain, also held huge feasts of thanks. They even formed 'The Order of Good Cheer' and gladly shared their food with their Indian neighbours.

After the Seven Year's War ended in 1763, the citizens of Halifax held a special day of Thanksgiving.

During the American Revolution, Americans who remained loyal to England moved to Canada where they brought the customs and practices of the American Thanksgiving to Canada. There are many similarities between the two Thanksgivings such as the cornucopia and the pumpkin pie.

Eventually in 1879, Parliament declared November 6th a day of Thanksgiving and a national holiday. Over the years many dates were used for Thanksgiving, the most popular was the 3rd Monday in October. After World War I, both Armistice Day and Thanksgiving were celebrated on the Monday of the week in which November 11th occurred. Ten years later, in 1931, the two days became separate holidays and Armistice Day was renamed Remembrance Day.

Finally, on January 31st, 1957, Parliament proclaimed...

"A Day of General Thanksgiving to Almighty God for the bountiful harvest with which Canada has been blessed ... to be observed on the 2nd Monday in October.

Source


So what's your favorite part about Thanksgiving? Favorite food? What's the one thing you're most grateful for this year?

 

[bloodsimple]

I'm betting they're mainly thankful that Bush isn't their leader.

They may also be thankful that they've got proper gun control, a health system that covers everyone, and they don't go around invading countries that are no threat to them.

Just a thought.

 

[Xelebes]

Instead of Bush we have Martin. We personally don't know who's worse.

 

[minsue]

Instead of Bush we have Martin. We personally don't know who's worse.

That's OK. The rest of us know.

 

[sirhugs]

I think you mean "Happy Thanksgiving, eh!"

 

[English Lady]

Happy Thanksgiving.

Harvest is a lovely time of year, it's always celebrated in the Churches I've attended, and it's good to spend osme time thinking about what we have instead of dwelling on what we haven't.

 

[McKenna]

I think you mean "Happy Thanksgiving, eh!"

How silly of me to forget the most important part!





I will amend my first post immediately, eh.

 

[ABSTRUSE]

Canada is north of me...it's chock full of Canadians....I like Canadians and their bacon.

 

[iztheo]

Instead of Bush we have Martin. We personally don't know who's worse.

Speak for yourself ... I'll take Martin in a Minority any day over the the other option.

 

[iztheo]

Just wanted to wish my neighbors to the north a very pleasant day on Monday!

Happy Thanksgiving, eh!​

So what's your favorite part about Thanksgiving? Favorite food? What's the one thing you're most grateful for this year?

Thanks, McKenna.

So what's your favorite part about Thanksgiving?
From my perspective, Thanksgiving isn't quite as large an undertaking as it appears to be in the US, but it is a great opportunity to spend some quality time with your loved ones, eat too much and contemplate all the good things that have happened in the year. Unfortunately ... this is delayed for me by a week since my partner is out of town, but next weekend is our anniversary, so we'll just have more to celebrate.

Favorite Food?
BTW ... if you are typing to Canadians, don't forget the "u" in Favourite. I've been contemplating all the great fall vegetable dishes that my mom used to make like acorn squash, candied parsnips, turnip, creamed onions, but what I really look forward to is the official opening of Pumpkin Pie Season. From now till Christmas, I will be searching for the ultimate Pumpkin Pie ... its a tough job, but someone has to do it.

What's the one thing you're most grateful for this year?
On a personal level: That both my parnter and I started new jobs this year that we both love.

On a larger scale: That the Same Sex Marriage Bill passed in Parliament we don't have to downgrade from a marriage to a civil union. Never thought that changing one word would make that much of a difference to me, until I started thinking that maybe Parliament wouldn't swing it.

 

[sirhugs]

Canada is north of me...it's chock full of Canadians....I like Canadians and their bacon.

We especially like the "makin" part of the bacon

 

[ABSTRUSE]

We especially like the "makin" part of the bacon

Take off, Hoser.

 

[McKenna]

... but what I really look forward to is the official opening of Pumpkin Pie Season. From now till Christmas, I will be searching for the ultimate Pumpkin Pie ... its a tough job, but someone has to do it.

Mmmm.... pumpkin pie, definitely one of my favourites!

On a larger scale: That the Same Sex Marriage Bill passed in Parliament we don't have to downgrade from a marriage to a civil union. Never thought that changing one word would make that much of a difference to me, until I started thinking that maybe Parliament wouldn't swing it.

You're lucky, then. Maybe some year we'll get something like that passed here, too. Maybe. I won't hold my breath though.

 

[SensualCealy]

Thanks McKenna,

My favourite part is the stuffing or dressing as we call it.
Every Thanksgiving there is nothing like a left over sandwich of Turkey, real butter, a slice of the moist dressing on a WHITE dinner roll! lol
Pumpkin pie with whipped cream is the best other than the good for ya food.

What am I thankful for, well, I guess I would say, continued freedom.
Being somewhat safe to walk down the street without being shot. Health care (that in the near future will be the same as the Americans) that doesnt differentiate between colour and income.
And my kids, they are the best even if there are days I could scream.
C

 

[McKenna]

My favourite part is the stuffing or dressing as we call it.
Every Thanksgiving there is nothing like a left over sandwich of Turkey, real butter, a slice of the moist dressing on a WHITE dinner roll! lol
Pumpkin pie with whipped cream is the best other than the good for ya food.

*drool*

Oh my. I wish American Thanksgiving was sooner! I have to wait another five weeks or so!

Thanks for sharing your thoughts, C.