FUN FACTS ABOUT THANKSGIVING IN CANADA
Wednesday Oct 07th, 2020
On October 12, people across our great country of Canada will celebrate Thanksgiving. While this holiday may not be our most popular of the year, it serves as an occasion to commemorate the blessings of the past year & enjoy a feast with loved ones. This year, the way we celebrate may look a little different than years past. However, whether we gather with Family & Friends via zoom, or have face-to-face conversations with loved ones on face-time as the phone makes its way around the table, here's what I know to be true: we can still laugh at a silly story being told to us; we can still enjoy a wonderful meal, no matter how few are seated at our table; and we can still give thanks and feel gratitude for the gift of life that we are so fortunate to receive and experience in the presence of today.
Just how knowledgeable are you about Canadian Thanksgiving? Here are a few fun facts to consider as you give thanks this year:
- While Parliament didn't establish Thanksgiving as a holiday until 1879, the first celebration in Canada occurred in 1578(!) when English explorer Martin Frobisher and his crew gave thanks for their safe arrival in Newfoundland. Although they'd actually been looking for the Northwest Passage to the Pacific Ocean, they were grateful to be alive and on solid ground after braving the treacherous seas near the Arctic.
- Canadian Thanksgiving predates the American version of the holiday, which originated when the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth, Massachusetts in 1621. Today, Canada celebrates Thanksgiving a month before the U.S. ~ mainly because Canada's cooler climate means an earlier harvest.
- Thanksgiving is a statutory holiday in all provinces except for: New Brunswick; Nova Scotia; Prince Edward's Island; Newfoundland & Labrador. Though not officially recognized, the day is typicallly celebrated in Newfoundland ~ but with a Jiggs' dinner, a traditional dish consisting of salt meat, cabbage and other veggies in lieu of turkey.
- In Quebec, Thanksgiving is called "Action de grace". Due to the holiday's Anglo-Protestant origins, it's not as widely celebrated in Quebec as it is in other provinces.
- Turkey is the iconic Thanksgiving dish in Canada. This dates back to the old English tradition of eating a large goose for special meals ~ but since turkey is native to North America, it's the dish of choice on this side of the pond.
- In 2018, Canadian turkey farmers produced 370 million pounds of turkey, worth a staggering $392 million! (that's a lot of turkey!). That year, 28% of Canadian households purchased turckey & turkey products for Thanksgiving ~ representing 35% of total sales in 2018. (The bird was even more popular at Christmas, claiming 39% of the year's sales). ...Sidebar Tid-bit: ...apparently we shouldn't blame the turkey afterall if we're feeling drowsy after dinner ...scientists think that the famous Thanksgiving food coma is more likely caused by the amount of carbohydrates & sugar consumed during the meal ...(wine could have something to do with it too... I'm just sayin! :D
EASY ~ NUTRIOUS & DELICIOUS FALL PAST
Not everyone eats turkey...or even meat for that matter. However, almost everyone likes pasta! So I thought a deliciouis fall inspired pasta dish would be a good way to sign-off this week. Here it is: Fall Pasta ~ for any night of the week:
- 1 Tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 4 oz thickly cut bacon cut into 1/2 inch dice (you can use pancetta or guanciale if you prefer ~ even capicola would be great for those that like a bit of kick)
- 8 oz butternut squash cut into 1/2 inch cubes
- 1 bunch of Tuscan kale cut into 1 inch pieces (any kale will do)
- 1/2 lb orecchiette pasta (shaped like little trumpets ~ use any pasta you like but theses look beautiful & pick up lots of sause due to thier shape!)
- Freshly grated Pecorino Romano cheese or Parmigiano Reggiano or Asiago cheese ~ as much or as little as you like!
- Salt & pepper to taste
Preheat oven to 400`F. Cut up the bacon & butternut squash. Drizzle the squash with just a touch of olive oil then gently toss the bacon & squah together & place onto a roasting pan (or even a cookei sheet pan) and roast them in the oven for 30 minutes. Once done remove from oven & stir in the kale and pop it back into the oven for another 10 minutes. Meanwhile bring a large pot of generously salted water (for the pasta) to a boil. Add the orecchiette past to the boiling water and time for 9-11 minutes (depending how al dente or firm you like you pasta). Drain water & add pasta back to the pot. Tip the contents of the roasted sheet pan into the pasta pot and gently toss it. Add Pecorino Romano (or your preferred chesse of choice) & salt & pepper to taste. Enjoy!!
Happy Thanksgiving To All!!!