RHONDA DESROCHES
People, here, in Canada, have just celebrated Thanksgiving.It is a holiday that occurs on the second Monday in October. Most people celebrate similar holidays in their countries too. Americans have their Thanksgiving in November and Koreans celebrate the Harvest Moon Festival, Chue Sok, in late summer, sometime in August or September, if my memory serves me correctly. But, wherever you may live, this special day or time revolves around giving thanks for a good harvest. It is a time of feasting, spending time with your family, showing gratitude and welcoming in autumn. A big part of Thanksgiving is the feast. Most Canadian families don't have turkey on a regular basis. It is saved for special occasions, like Thanksgiving and Christmas. So, for most people, turkey is a real treat. Now, being a vegetarian, and having not eaten turkey for a good twenty years, I am speaking from an observer's point of view. But I do know my family loves a big turkey dinner. As for me, I look forward to "the fixings". What are fixings? Well, they consist of all the other food that is served with the turkey. In my family we typically have mashed potatoes and gravy, turnips, carrots, corn and one green vegetable, either green beans or broccoli, cranberries (bitter red berries) and of course, my mother's famous stuffing and pumpkin pie. Stuffing or dressing, as some say, is mixture of bread crumbs, onions, potatoes, and aromatic spices and seasonings. It is then put inside the turkey and cooked, absorbing all the juices and flavours of the meat. My mother always leaves some aside for me because I don't eat meat. Ooh wee! If you could just smell the kitchen when it was in the oven, you'd think you were in Heaven. In today's hectic world, spending quality time with your family becomes rarer and rarer. So this is one holiday when most families try to get together to share an excellent meal. In the United States, they spend their Thanksgiving watching football, here in Canada, many families play games. My family is no exception. We have been known to go through 4 or 5 different card and board games; all the while laughing and having a blast (a great time). Before, between and after games we eat. This is a weight gaining holiday. All diets are put on hold until after the weekend. At dinner, before eating, we sit around the table and tell each other what we are thankful for. My sister goes first then the next person. Thanksgiving is a time to say thank you for the bountiful feast. In our house we thank God. Then we share personal feelings of gratitude. After everyone has spoken and all the tears are dried, my father says, "Dig in". Then we start to eat and don't stop until everyone is so full that dessert will have to be postponed until later. But of course, hours later, you'll always catch someone in the fridge nibbling (takinglittle pieces of something) at the turkey and stuffing.People are eating turkey leftovers and joking about it for days after, saying things like: "If I see another turkey sandwich I think I'll die". But these same people can't wait for Christmas to have another delicious turkey dinner with the fixings because to them and to most Canadians, turkey means family, fun and sharing special moments. NP
192 Dock Road P.O. Box 357
Alberton, PEI
C0B 1B0
E-Mail: rhonda@easternshoresacademy.com