BACK IN THE DAY GIVING THANKS MEANT SOMETHING ENTIRELY DIFFERENT THAN OUR CURRENT FEST FILLED WITH TURKEY TRYPTOPHAN AND ELASTICISED WAISTBANDS. Now we automatically think of Butterball, potatoes, gravy and Pilgrims with big hats, white stockings and clunky shoes with buckles. But do you know the history of Canada’s Thanksgiving?

HISTORY OF THANKSGIVING

A RITE OF PASSAGE In 1578, English explorer Martin Frobisher couldn’t seem to fi nd a northern passage to the Orient, so he settled in Newfoundland instead.

He held a formal ceremony to give thanks for surviving his long wandering journey. This is considered the fi rst Canadian Thanksgiving, and predates the Pilgrims’ fi rst Thanksgiving by 43 years.

At the same time as Frobisher, Frenchman Samuel de Champlain marked his own world travels with a huge feast of thanks. He formed “The Order of Good Cheer” to share his harvest with those less fortunate.

On the other side of the pond, European farmers happily celebrated their harvest too. They would fill the horn of a goat with fruits and grains. This curved horn was known as a cornucopia or the horn of plenty and it’s believed that European immigrants brought this tradition to Canada.

In 1879, Parliament declared Thanksgiving a national holiday in Canada; the third Monday in October was chosen as a permanent date in 1957. But why do we celebrate our holiday in October while the U.S. whoops it up in November?

Canada’s cooler climate means our harvest season falls earlier than that below the border.

We give thanks a little earlier in the year, also ensuring we’re not still sick of turkey by the time Christmas rolls around.

HARVEST CELEBRATIONS AROUND THE WORLD

In the West African country of Ghana, tribes celebrate the Yam Festival with song and dance.

Yams are the first crop harvested.
Other African tribes celebrate the Homowo Festival (“hooting at hunger”) with parades to mark the ongoing fight against famine.

In India, the primary crop harvested is rice.
The Holi celebration is marked by bonfires to banish the cold when the moon is full and is more of a religious holiday.

Sri Lankans celebrate Pongal as the first rice festival, and mark the occasion in front of their houses with rice flour paste.

The Green Corn Festival (also called Green Corn Dance or Ceremony) is a three-day Native American celebration and religious ceremony.

The dance is held by the Cree, Cherokee, Seminole, Yuchi, and Iroquois as well as other Native American tribes. The Yuchi tribe celebration begins in late April and early May and lasts until about the third week of July. The opening day of the ceremony varies among tribes depending when the corn is ripe. This can be any time from May to October and is determined by the “Keepers of the Faith.” Corn is not to be eaten until the Great Spirit has been properly thanked.

TALKING TURKEY: THE FACTS

Butterball turkeys have been a holiday tradition for the past 50 years. Butterball is actually the name chosen to characterize a breed of turkey and in no way refers to butter. Butterball turkeys are covered in white feathers and have extra-broad breasts.

Caruncle, wattle and snood – not words referring to corns, warts or a Dr. Seuss character but the names for the wobbly flesh on a turkey’s head. When all three turn bright red the turkey is either in a mating mood or is very angry. Either way, he’ll be on a mission.

The Big Bird costume on Sesame Street is made entirely of feathers from the hind end of the turkey and dyed yellow.

When Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin tore into their first meal on the moon, it was freeze-dried roast turkey with all the trimmings.

You’re getting sleepy... Turkey acts as a natural sedative because it contains tryptophan, an essential amino acid that the body can’t manufacture on its own. Tryptophan helps the body produce the B-vitamin niacin, which in turn helps the body produce serotonin, a chemical that acts as a calming agent in the brain and plays a key role in sleep.

Tryptophan is one of the 10 essential amino acids that the body uses to synthesize the proteins it needs. Other foods high in tryptophan include chicken, beef, brown rice, nuts, fish, milk, eggs, cheese, fruit, and vegetables.

Thanks-goating We look forward to a meal of turkey, ham or even duck, but goat? Christian Children’s Fund of Canada, an international children’s charity, collects donations to provide goats to poor families in remote parts of Africa and South America. While we’re eating leftover turkey sandwiches, families around the globe will be able to enjoy the bounty of milk, cheese, and protein provided by goats. Www.ccfcanada.ca.