Hello Whyvillians! As some of you know, last weekend was Thanksgiving in Canada. Most of you probably celebrate Thanksgiving in November though. I interviewed some Canadian Whyvillians to find out their thoughts on Canada's Thanksgiving.
Rochrox: In the US, Thanksgiving marks the Mayflower sailing to North America, where the pilgrims and native Americans had a meal together. However, in Canada we don't celebrate Thanksgiving for this particular reason. In your opinion, why do we celebrate Thanksgiving?
holiday50: Canadians celebrate Thanksgiving in October. October is also the month of harvesting in Canada. On Thanksgiving, we give thanks for all the food farmers harvest for us.
Girly433: We celebrate Thanksgiving because we are giving thanks to God and our family for all we have!
ashleeoxo: I think we celebrate Thanksgiving to be thankful for what we have, not what we want.
Emma1546: To give thanks, to everyone for everything. My family is a little religious, so usually we celebrate to thank God for having our family gathered together, safe and happy.
HolyCow: Well, in my point of view, we celebrate Thanksgiving to give thanks for everything we've been given in our lives; and to appreciate all the good things we receive.
goodgale98: Thanksgiving in Canada provides an opportunity for Canadians to give thanks for having the good fortune to live in a bountiful, free country, and to celebrate that day by feasting with family and friends. And for apple pie, yay!
Rochrox: What are some of your Thanksgiving traditions?
holiday50: My grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins come over to our house for Thanksgiving dinner. Everyone brings something to eat, while my family makes the traditional turkey and pumpkin pie.
Emma1546: We live by a lake so we'll take the dogs for a walk, then come home set the table (with the good knives and forks), my family eats turkey, while I enjoy a soya burger, afterwards pumpkin pie with whipped cream.
HolyCow: There really aren't many things my family and I do. Except of course, the big Thanksgiving dinner.
greenda35: Well for this Thanksgiving I spent time with my family and it was so nice.
Rochrox: Do you think Thanksgiving is a good reason to have a day off school?
holiday50: Yes, because we are appreciating Canada's agriculture, spending time with our families, and giving thanks for what we have and don't have. Normally, Canadians don't say grace before they eat, but Thanksgiving is a day to celebrate the food we're lucky enough to eat.
Emma1546: In my opinion, any reason is a good reason to have a day off school. I don't really understand why we have a whole day off for dinner other then to help cook and spend time with our families.
ashleeoxo: I think it's a good reason to get school off, because sometimes family comes in from other parts of the country that you haven't seen in a while, and it's nice just to visit and not worry about homework for a day.
HolyCow: Yes and no. Yes because it gives kids and their families a chance to spend meaningful time with each other. No, because ordinarily, people don't have Thanksgiving Lunch or Thanksgiving Breakfast. It's the dinner, and you don't have dinner during school.
Rochrox: Do you like having Thanksgiving in October, or do you think it's better to celebrate Thanksgiving in November, like the US?
holiday50: Canadians celebrate Thanksgiving in October for a reason, and our Thanksgiving isn't the same as the US Thanksgiving. If Canadians celebrate it in November, then we're celebrating a history that we're not apart of.
ashleeoxo: I think that November is definitely more traditional, so it's better to have it in October!
Emma1546: I don't mind it in October, because it's not as cold as November so spending time outside isn't as limited.
HolyCow: To tell you the truth, I could care less about the date of the celebration. It's more about the celebration itself.
goodgal98: The Canadian Thanksgiving is held the second Monday in October, unlike the American Thanksgiving, which falls in November. Some people believe this is because Canada, being farther north, has an earlier harvest. Others think that having Thanksgiving in November interfered with Remembrance Day, a day set apart each year on November 11th to remember those who died in wars. At any rate, deciding to have Thanksgiving in October when the weather is still warm enough for Canadians to enjoy the outdoors was a great idea!
So there you have it folks. Hopefully you've learned a little bit about Canadians' Thanksgivings! Thanksgiving is a great holiday, that, as you can see, we celebrate for many different reasons. Fall is a great time to celebrate all that we are fortunate enough to have.
--rochrox
