Conventional thinking concedes that the celebration of Thanksgiving in Canada was brought by the loyalists who supported Great Britain during the U.S. War of Independence.
But the history books tell us that English navigator Martin Frobisher held the first European “festival of thanks” on North American soil in Newfoundland in 1578. This commemoration was not to give thanks for the bountiful harvest but simply for surviving the long voyage across the Atlantic Ocean.
In addition, French settlers, from 1604 onwards, held regular feasts of thanks. And according to “The Canadian Encyclopedia” (Hurtig Publishers, Edmonton), the celebration was brought to Nova Scotia in the 1750s and the citizens of Halifax celebrated the end of the Seven Year’s War in 1763 with a special day of Thanksgiving.
Although its date has changed several times over ensuing decades, Parliament established in 1957 that Thanksgiving would be observed on the second Monday in October for “the bountiful harvest with which Canada has been blessed.”
Like its U.S. counterpart, the Canadian Thanksgiving meal usually features turkey, although ham or other roasts may be substituted. This centerpiece is complemented by an array of favorites: gravy, stuffing, autumn vegetables and desserts.
Canadians are also fond of the cornucopia tradition as it was originally practiced by European farmers: filling a curved ram’s horn with fruits and grains.
While the actual Thanksgiving holiday is on a Monday, Canadians might eat their festive meal on any day of the three-day weekend, though Sunday and Monday are the most common.
Local celebrations
In Ajijic, the Canadian Club of Lake Chapala hosts a traditional Thanksgiving feast on Monday, October 10 at La Nueva Posada. The menu is cream of tomato soup served with garlic croutons, croissant with sweet butter, traditional roast turkey with country sage stuffing and whole cranberry sauce, creamy mashed potatoes with giblet gravy, sweet potatoes served with roasted almond slivers, buttered English peas, maple flavored pumpkin pie served with fresh vanilla whipped cream and coffee.
Tickets are on sale at La Nueva Posada for 255 pesos per person (includes tax and tip). Open seating and full table reserved seating are available. There will be a no-host bar. Social hour begins at 5:30 p.m. and dinner served at 6:30 p.m.
American Legion Post Seven in Chapala will celebrate Canadian Thanksgiving on Monday, October 10 with cocktails at 2 p.m. and dinner served at 3 p.m. The menu includes turkey and stuffing, mashed potatoes and gravy, cranberries, broccoli salad, honeyed carrots and dessert. There will be live music for listening and dancing. Tickets for 150 pesos are available at the Post (Morelos 114, Chapala), from Diane Pearl’s Colecciones in Ajijic or contact [email protected].
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