I’m still thrown by Thanksgiving being in October and not in November. But moving on…
Today, technically, is Canadian Thanksgiving. It’s a beautiful day. Sunny, cool. Perfect baseball weather. It stands in stark contrast to the cold, windy Chicago Thanksgivings to which I am more accustomed. Waking up to the smell of food cooking, music playing and more voices in the kitchen. Helping prep for family arriving, or piling into the car to head down to my aunt’s. There’s a real sense of holiday and the holiday spirit. Catching up with family, giving thanks, sharing a meal. And, of course, watching football.
Canadian Thanksgiving, while it shares some similarities like turkey and pumpkin pie, has some differences.
I was invited to two Canadian Thanksgivings this weekend. Saturday was mostly a gathering of friends to share a larger than usual meal. They certainly don’t hold back on the food. Turkey, all the fixings, pumpkin pie, apple pie. All very good. The BC Lions were playing on Saturday night, and that was on in the background. So on the surface, it seemed very much like American Thanksgiving.
Except there was no giving of thanks, and not much family present, at least on Saturday. Sunday was held at the parents house of a friend, so there was family in addition to friends. But no extended family.
Both dinners were quite fun. Saturday was like previous gatherings with this group of friends. Good food. Good people. Good conversation. An education on the Canadian Football League which requires a separate post. Good stuff. Sunday was also fun. Smaller gathering, good conversation, Wii, turkey and pumpkin pie. Another warm, friendly atmosphere. I didn’t realize the lack of extended family until later and it occurred to me that most of the people I know and associate with the most in Vancouver are Asian. As far as I know, Thanksgiving is not a customary Asian holiday.
I see why Asians have a better understanding of my trials of adjusting to Canadian life.
Thanksgiving seems quite the American holiday, actually. We’re raised on the Thanksgiving story, how the Pilgrims survived a harsh winter with the help of Native Americans, making it possible for the founding of America. We’re told the story all through grade school, and give thanks for all we appreciate each year. It almost seems trivial, routine. And it’s easy to think of it that way. But seeing how Canadians celebrate their Thanksgiving, with such little fanfare, choosing instead to share it with close friends and family, American Thanksgiving isn’t something to be taken for granted. It strikes me now as a unifying holiday, one celebrated across the country where we all give pause to appreciate the people in our lives.
It strikes me as interesting that appreciating people seems to be ingrained in Canadians, like an unspoken understanding or rule. Americans seem inclined to demonstrate and proclaim their appreciation for people, rather than assume people feel appreciated.
Rather interesting to view America and its customs from up here.