Me, spilling out all my thoughts, inner and outer, on just about anything! Lots of poetry, short stories from past experiences, anecdotes about teaching elementary school, music, relationships....garage sale type thing...Something For Everyone!

Monday, October 05, 2009

Thanksgiving 2009















This upcoming weekend is the Traditional Canadian Thanksgiving. I am hosting a feast for 16 members of my family..... and what a magnificent feast and fun get-together it shall be!


On the menu: 22 pound Turkey, home made cranberry sauce,bread stuffing in crock pots,mashed potatoes, whipped squash, velvety gravy, cabbage salad, dinner rolls,AND home made apple,grape, and pumpkin pie, coffee, tea for dessert! The wine will be flowing freely, provided by my 90-year-old father!


My place is all decorated; outside and inside. I just love decorating for a special dinner at my house!


Cheers and have a Happy Thanksgiving.


Thanksgiving Facts


In Canada, Thanksgiving is a three-day weekend (although some provinces observe a four day weekend, Friday–Monday). Traditional Thanksgiving meals prominently feature turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce and mashed potatoes, though Canada's multicultural heritage has seen many families infuse this traditional meal with elements of their traditional ethnic foods.


As a liturgical festival, the Canadian Thanksgiving corresponds to the European harvest festival, during which churches are adorned with cornucopias, pumpkins, corn, wheat sheaves and other harvest bounty. English and other European harvest hymns are customarily sung on the Sunday of Thanksgiving weekend, along with scriptural lections derived from biblical stories relating to the Jewish harvest festival of Sukkot.


While the actual Thanksgiving holiday occurs on a Monday, Canadian families might eat their Thanksgiving meal on any day of the three day weekend. The holiday can also be a time for weekend getaways for couples to observe the autumn leaves, spend one last weekend at their summer homes, or participate in various outdoor activities such as hiking, fishing and hunting.
History of Thanksgiving in Canada


The history of Thanksgiving in Canada goes back to an English explorer, Martin Frobisher, who had been futilely attempting to find a northern passage to the Orient. He did, however, establish a settlement in Canada. In the year 1578, Frobisher held a formal ceremony in what is now the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, to give thanks for surviving the long journey. This event is widely considered to be the first Canadian Thanksgiving, and the first official Thanksgiving to occur in North America. More settlers arrived and continued the ceremonial tradition initiated by Frobisher, who was eventually knighted and had an inlet of the Atlantic Ocean in northern Canada named after him — Frobisher Bay now known as Iqualuit.


It should be noted that the 1578 ceremony was not the first Thanksgiving as defined by First Nations tradition. Long before the time of Martin Frobisher, it was traditional in many First Nations cultures to offer an official giving of thanks during autumnal gatherings. In Haudenasonee culture, Thanksgiving is a prayer recited to honor "the three sisters" (i.e., beans, corn and squash) during the fall harvest.









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7 Comments:

Blogger Richard said...

We won't be celebrating a Canadian Thanksgiving this year, since we are in Madrid, Spain. Coincidentally, this is a long weekend as well (the Spanish celebrate National Day - formerly Hispanic Day - commemorating Columuses discovery of the New World On 12-October-1492.

While they sell turkey meat here, I haven't found a whole bird yet. Might just end up roasting a chicken instead.

Friday, October 09, 2009

 
Blogger Akelamalu said...

Happy thanksgiving m'dear I hope you have a wonderful time with your family. )

Sunday, October 11, 2009

 
Anonymous RennyBA's Terella said...

Happy Thanks giving to you and your family and how wonderful to gather them all at your house - in real TG spirit!

Thanks for the historical background too. I remember we've talked about that before when I posted about our celebration in Norway, since I have an American wife.

Sunday, October 11, 2009

 
Blogger Jannie Funster said...

Happy special day! Makes me miss Mom's pumpkin pie. And home-made cranberry.

Your place looks so inviting and beautiful. Well done.

Sunday, October 11, 2009

 
Blogger storyteller said...

Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours! Everything looks quite festive. Here in the US it's Columbus Day today ;--)
Hugs and blessings,

Monday, October 12, 2009

 
Blogger TorAa said...

Very informative and interesting from early Canadian history - linked up to todays family traditions.

We do not have something similar here in Norway - I mean in the form of a short vacation, or long weekend when family gathers around the table.

Of course, we have our Family Dinners as well; with the Season Food:
Based on Lamb. Most popular are the Lamb (or Mutton) and Cabbage Stew.
It's easy to prepare:
" Fårikål is a traditional Norwegian dish, consisting of pieces of mutton with bone, cabbage, whole black pepper and a little wheat flour, cooked for several hours in a casserole; first a layer of lamb, then Cabbage, then Lamb, then Cabbage and so on; traditionally served with potatoes boiled in their jackets. The dish is typically prepared in early autumn. Fårikål is originally a dish from the Western part of Norway, but is now enjoyed in all parts of the country. On 24 September 2009 is Fårikål Feast. Fårikål Feast Day is celebrated on the last Thursday in September each year"
It tastes best, the Day after the cooking. Just leave it in the fridge or on a chilly and safe place outside.
Traditionally the Norwegians drinks Beer and Aquavita to this dish.I prefere Water or a White Wine from Alsace, Riesling or even Sylvaner.

btw. Are you prepared for Oslo in August next year?
I think there will be something on RennyBA's blog during this week.

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

 
Blogger GEWELS said...

MOI!
Your place looks FABULOUS!!! I'm inspired- even though our Thanksgiving is over a month away.
Gotta get thru the halloween decorations first. lol.

Miss you
xoxo

Thursday, October 15, 2009

 

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