First Canadian Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving, or what we like to say “Turkey Day”!

Given that the leaves are turning and the temperature is getting colder (much colder!), we want to educate our international friends on the origin, traditions, and stereotypes of Canadian Thanksgiving. We all look forward to having the long-weekend to sleep in, eat delicious home-cooked food, and of course…procrastinate. However, it is my great pleasure to say that there is much more to it than that.

While every family has their own traditions that carry down generation to generation, there are a few Thanksgiving staples that you should be aware of: turkey, stuffing and pumpkin pie!

What to expect for Canadian Thanksgiving…

A long time ago:

Canadian Thanksgiving was declared a national holiday in 1879, and occurs on the second Monday of every October. In essence, it kicks off the start of autumn and is dedicated to celebrating the harvest season. An important distinction is between the holiday of our southern neighbours. While American Thanksgiving holds similar values, after the world wars, Canadians opted to celebrate earlier, given that Remembrance day falls in early November.

Pumpkins, Leaves and Turkey, oh my!

If you take a walk down a neighbourhood street, you’ll start to see porches filled with fall autumn colours, pumpkins of all sizes, and corn husks stacked in flower pots. On Thanksgiving weekend, families will gather for leisurely lunches or dinners enjoying some Canadian Thanksgiving classics such as:

• The savoury: stuffing, potatoes of all kinds, green beans, cranberry sauce, lots of gravy and of course, turkey!

• The seasonal: squash, carrots, turnip, roasted brussel sprouts and pumpkin spice everything!

• The sweet: it wouldn’t be a Canadian Thanksgiving without apple pie and pumpkin pie, topped with whipped cream or sided with vanilla ice cream

Post “turkey coma” friends and families will typically play some fun games, reconnect in conversation or enjoy a walk in the brisk fall air.

Fall Festivities

If you’re looking for something to do this season and your instagram feed hasn’t already been filled with inspiration, check out some of our favourite autumn festivities:

• Apple Picking: In Greater Napanee, Wynn Farms offers a variety of activities such as apple picking, browsing the pumpkin patch, or traversing the haunted house!

• Pumpkin Carving - Here’s some cool and creative ideas to help your porch pumpkin stand out!

• Corn Maze - Just a ferry ride away, the Wolfe Island Farm hosts an impressive corn maze and bonfire experience that you won’t want to miss!

What We’re Thankful For...

In the spirit of giving thanks, our team would like to share what we are grateful for this autumn.

Haley:

It’s true that Thanksgiving is a great time to give thanks, but we should remind ourselves everyday how fortunate we are and reflect upon the wonderful people in our lives. We often take the simple things in life for granted; a roof over our heads, the opportunity to study at a University or College, food on the table and even our health. This Thanksgiving, I am thankful for the little things, as well as my loving and supportive family and friends who are always there for me. I am also grateful to be part of extracurriculars that I am beyond passionate about (QSA and QLEAD!) and for the opportunity to travel abroad next semester to France.

Jacqueline:

Every year I find more to be thankful for. In 2017, I had an overwhelming appreciation for my highschool. In 2018, I learned to value my relationship with my twin brother. This year, I am grateful for my best friends across the country who have been constant pillars of support and sources of joy. 2019 has been quite the roller-coaster ride, and I am proud to say that this journey has led me to better appreciate not only all of the unique opportunities I’ve had and the positive people in my life, but also to love and thank myself. Looking ahead, thank you to my family for providing me the opportunity to attend Queen’s University, and encouraging me to study abroad next semester in Helsinki, Finland. As always, I feel honoured and grateful to live in a safe community and a country that I am proud to call my home.

Iñaki:

This Thanksgiving I am thankful for my best friends all over the world, from Singapore and Taipei all the way to Queen’s, who always manage to put a smile on my face. I want to thank my family for their never ending support and love through all my highs and lows, and for giving me the opportunity to pursue my passions. I am also truly grateful for being able to travel the world and meet such unique individuals wherever I go.

Happy Thanksgiving to all of you beautiful people from the First Time team! Cheers!