Happy Thanksgiving?
Posted in Uncategorized by admin on October 14th, 2010
‘Tis the season when North Americans celebrate Thanksgiving – October for Canadians and November for Americans. In both countries, the holiday is really a harvest celebration, a time for rejoicing in the bounty that the land has to offer, and for partaking of the fruits of several months of hard labour to bring that bounty forth.
There’s something inherently wonderful about this time of year. The days shorten, the nights become cooler, and instead of mourning the loss of the warmth and brightness of summertime we are reminded of the ephemeral nature of all life, and that leads to a time of deep appreciation for what we do have.
The season is called ‘fall’ in America, but this is not an ‘Americanism.’ In fact, it is a retention of the older English word for the season, long lost in England and Ireland, but still thriving in America. I like the word, because it reminds us that this is the time that the leaves fall from the trees, yellow, red, orange and brown, having spent all their chlorophyll giving life to the tree. But they don’t lie useless in dirt. Instead, they are a vibrant part of organic mix that gives richness to the soil and makes new life possible.
And isn’t that the point? The seasons are cycles. All life is cyclical, death being just one state in every living being’s existence, a passage to the next. So ‘fall’ is one of my favourite times, a season when we can rejoice in the cycle of life, the truth that death is merely a means of furthering new life.
Which brings me back to Thanksgiving.
I think every country should celebrate Thanksgiving, and autumn is the perfect time to do so. I’m not necessarily talking about feasting on turkey and ham and all the trimmings as they do in North America, but maybe, taking a page from their book, we could take a day to celebrate the bounty of our own land, perhaps preparing simple meals from the food that is plentiful now – the potatoes, carrots, turnips, Swedes, courgettes, marrows and brassicas that are bursting from the soil at this time and whip up a meal to invite friends and family to share.
Because that, ultimately, is the purpose of Thanksgiving: to celebrate family and friendship – the ties that bind our communities together.
So, why not celebrate autumn in a more meaningful way this year? Pick a day, any day, and put together a simple dinner to invite friends and family to share. And whatever day you choose it to be, have a Happy Thanksgiving!
With warmth,
Sheila