|
As an immigrant I didn’t grow up celebrating Thanksgiving. It is purely a North American holiday. But I love it. What’s not to love? I enjoy the smell of the turkey roasting in the oven, the fun of baking pumpkin pies with my children and relaxing at home with my family.
When I was talking my mother, in England, this morning she asked me an important question: - Why do Canadians celebrate Thanksgiving? I didn’t know. We all know the American story of the puritans and this holiday, but what about us? So I asked my children, after all, they attend school here, and you would think that some teacher, at some time would have explained why we have our statutory holidays. They had no idea. And so I resorted to asking my husband. Now, I love the man but normally he only focuses on things that interest him, like his family, motorbike, and sports. So I wasn’t surprized when he didn’t know either. So I put it to you out there in the cyber-verse, why do Canadians celebrate Thanksgiving? Is it just so we can have a wonderful meal and day off work? You tell me. Whatever the reasons I’m thankful for them. I hope that your holiday is as full of family, friends, and love as mine.
4 Comments
sam
10/14/2013 02:18:56 am
hi happy thanksgiving to you to
Max
10/14/2013 04:10:58 am
Feed me, Marlow, feed me! Hi Marlow. You're question really got me thinking - I've lived in Canada for almost 30 years and don't know the answer either - so I did a bit of rooting around on the internet. It appears that in the early days it was a church celebration as in the European Harvest Festival tradition. After the American Revolution, those Americans loyal to the throne moved to Canada bringing with them the idea of thanksgiving, turkey and pumpkin pie, so it appears that this was the start of the two celebrations mingling to become what we know today. It only became a national holiday with its date set as the second Monday in October in 1957. Leave a Reply. |
Archives
June 2019
|
RSS Feed