Find Your New Home in Canada with this Guide, Kabayan!

What are you thankful for? Is it your new life in Canada? Or new friends abroad? or that amazing job you just received? There’s so much to be thankful for for being in Canada. And for that, it’s time to celebrate Thanksgiving in Canada!

This holiday happens every second Monday of October to celebrate gratitude and good harvest. The Philippines does not have this same tradition although it shares the same discipline of family/friends gathering, sharing a hearty meal, and reflecting on the blessings throughout the year.

Now that you’ve come to Canada, you’ll have to do this right–the way Canadians do it. Remember that this is not the same Thanksgiving in the US! So, sit down, and savor this guide on how Canadians celebrate their Thanksgiving.

Know the holiday history

This tradition dates back to 1578. Explorer Martin Frobisher started this by celebrating his successful journey to the New World. As time went by, it evolved into a celebration of the harvest (often associated with fall bounty) and the blessings of the past year. In understanding this concept, you appreciate the gratitude of Canadians towards blessings and their respect for nature’s gifts in their way of life.

Plan a Harvest Feast

It’s not a celebration of season’s bounty without a delicious feast! Traditional Canadian Thanksgiving dishes often include roasted turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, cranberry sauce, and pumpkin pie. But it still varies per region so you can expect seafood dishes among coastal regions, or a savory tourtière (meat pie) in Quebec that is a fusion of Canadian and French cuisine.

As a Filipino host, you can also serve traditional Filipino cuisine such as Lumpia and Pancit to introduce to your foreign friends. If you’re on a budget or expecting a small group of visitors, you can serve a roasted chicken or even a plant-based centerpiece. Side dishes can be an ode to the seasonal bounty that includes roasted squash, brussels sprouts, or sweet potatoes.

Decorate a warm and welcoming set-up

Since it’s fall season and it’s about its bounty, you can keep things simple with rustic decorations like a centerpiece of autumn leaves, pine cones, or small pumpkins. If you wanna get crafty, you can DIY your place cards or napkin rings with natural materials. Choose a palette of warm colors like deep reds, oranges, and browns to reflect the season.

Incorporate Meaningful Traditions

Now, here’s the interactive part! Everyone must express their gratitude! Go around the table and invite each guest to share a message of what they’re thankful for. This simple gesture is what makes Thanksgiving a meaningful tradition that fosters connection among friends and family.

Some families even do a post-dinner walk to enjoy the fresh season’s air and spend quality time together!

Embrace Canadian Traditions

If you wanna do it as the Canadian do, you can watch the annual CFL Thanksgiving Day Classic football games or appreciate the fall foliage with a stroll in the nature park. Make your first Thanksgiving memorable by making the most out of Canadian traditions.

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