Why we Canadians have Thanksgiving so darn early

[dlowry]

I've been thinking of this one quite a bunch today since it's Thanksgiving on Monday in the Great White North. If I miss anything, please help me out...

We're thankful for -

The start of Hockey Night in Canada - yes, hockey season and Saturday nights with Ron & Don and most often the Toronto Maple Leafs. We fans of the 'buds keep hoping "this will be the year we win the cup!"

The end of baseball season - at least for the Blue Jays. One losing team ends in time for us to get excited about another one (see above).

It's not snowing yet and the temperature in the east is a balmy 24 degrees with predictions of 30 on the weekend. I'll be roasting the turkey on the deck at the cottage in shorts and a t-shirt! The guys in the west aren't as lucky as we are this year. Before you get excited, that's degrees C, not F. Double and add 30 for a quick conversion.

Our beer isn't canoe beer. (What's the difference between American beer and making love in a canoe? Nothing - they're both 'effing near water)

Have you ever been to Plymouth, MA, in late November? October is much nicer.

The harvest moon is in October, not November.

We usually hip deep in snow come November.

Only 200 more days until bike season, and patio season as well.

Construction in Toronto is over until Spring.

And, spending time with our families and friends to remember all the things we are truly thankful for.

Happy Thanksgiving!

[bubbagazoo]

Geez, and to think I figured American Thanksgiving was so darn late.

Yep, it's the start of the NHL season and already we, outside of Southern Ontario, are tired of seeing the Leafs on TV.

The weather in the west is the usual screwy weather. High today was 6 C. Forecast high for Sunday - 17 C. That's a really big difference. But, I'm thankful my bike is not put away and I'm still commuting on it. I'm hoping for at least another month of riding.

When the snow does fly and accumulates, it will actually fill in the Edmonton pot holes.

The 'Riders are playing well and might actually host a playoff game. It's been almost 20 years since that has happened.

Dave is right. We have lots to be thankful for.

Have a great weekend folks.

[PAULBACH]

Happy Thanksgiving Canada

http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g264/PaulBach/Smilies/turkey2.gif

[mrich12000]

:stick :kbasa :kbasa :beer :bar :fart :fart :jawdrop :sick :thumb



TURKEY

[tourunigo]

The US Citzens are very aware why Canada has their Thanksgiving in October. It is because the Pilgrams landed there first. :dunno

Come on down everything is on sale.

not quite....


"The truth of the matter is that Thanksgiving in Canada can be traced back to Ontario in the mid 1880s. Protestant church leaders decided to 'borrow' the American tradition of Thanksgiving, but they wished to turn Thanksgiving into a nationalistic, religious event which excluded Catholics, the poor, and many minority groups. This approach eventually failed:

They did not simply duplicate the American Thanksgiving festival. Church leaders, particularly after Confederation, felt it their moral and historical duty to shape the Canadian identity in the Christian mould and saw the adoption of the Thanksgiving holiday as a way to do this. They created the Canadian Thanksgiving as an exclusively religious event that was white, Anglo-Saxon Protestant, pro-British and often anti-American in nationalist intent.

The Protestant clergy successfully lobbied the Canadian government to create Canada's first, national Thanksgiving in 1859. But it was only proclaimed sporadically in the ensuing years, as church, state and commerce each wrestled for control of the holiday. By the 1870s, American holiday traditions, such as family gatherings for turkey dinner and stories of the pilgrims, took hold in Canada, creating both commercial opportunities for businesses, and a way for Catholics to celebrate the day as a non-religious event. With this, the Protestant clergy lost exclusive control of Thanksgiving Day. They lost all influence over the holiday in 1908, when the government appointed Thanksgiving for a Monday rather than a Thursday. Transportation companies had asked for the change, feeling that a long weekend would increase holiday travel. Churches opposed the move, fearing that it would hurt church attendance, as it did. In 1957, Parliament passed legislation to make Thanksgiving an annual holiday celebrated on the second Monday of October, eliminating the need for annual proclamations"

http://proudcanadiankids.ca/Canadian%20Thanksgiving%20Truth.htm

...and, what a wonderful time to travel here in Atlantic Canada! The weather has been gorgeous (sipping wine at 10pm in shorts/t-shirt on the deck last night with clear skies) and the week-end is promising more of the same for our holiday. Anyway, happy Thanksgiving to you all... bon apitit!:thumb :buds :eat -Bob

[rinty]

Thanks for the historical vignette, Bob.:)

Rinty

[d_day_6]

Loved the canoe beer joke!!!!:rofl

Happy Thanksgiving to my Canadian neighbors!!

[hlothery]

What's hockey?:scratch

[PAULBACH]

Hockey?

Definitely not the national sport of Canada!

Lacrosse! The Indian reservations in Western NY play the gave and every year give the suburban kids a clinic in how to play the game.

[Pat Carol]

Have a nice Thanksgiving Canada! In honor of all Canadians I will purchase a case of beer and celebrate this weekend.


PC

[Fritzc]

Have a nice Thanksgiving Canada! In honor of all Canadians I will purchase a case of beer and celebrate this weekend.PC

My Canadian friends get angry when we don't buy their products.:fight

[Pat Carol]

Hi Fritz! :wave


PC

[BradfordBenn]

Home and home series of the Make Beliefs and the Trojans?!?!? Good for the people of Ontario... but the rest of the country? And then the Flyers versus the Flames.... hmmm

Can't wait until next year when every team will play every team.