by Bhupinder Singh
Thanksgiving is a holiday celebrated in much of North America, generally observed as an expression of gratitude, usually to God. The most common view of its origin is that it was to give thanks to God for the bounty of the autumn harvest.
In the United States, the holiday is celebrated on the fourth Thursday in November. In Canada, where the harvest generally ends earlier in the year, the holiday is celebrated on the second Monday in October, which is observed as Columbus Day or protested as Indigenous Peoples Day in the United States.
History
The famous thanksgiving story goes like this. In 1620AD few pilgrims (members of the English Separatist Church, a Puritan sect) decided to sail to North America aboard the Mayflower from Europe. They had earlier fled their home in England and sailed to Holland to escape religious persecution. There, they enjoyed more religious tolerance, but they eventually became disenchanted with the Dutch way of life, thinking it ungodly. Seeking a better life, the Separatists negotiated with a London stock company to finance a pilgrimage to America. Most of those making the trip aboard the Mayflower were non-Separatists, but were hired to protect the company's interests. Only about one-third of the original colonists were Separatists.
The Pilgrims set ground at Plymouth Rock on December 11, 1620AD. Their first winter was devastating. At the beginning of the following fall, they had lost 46 of the original 102 who sailed on the Mayflower. But the harvest of 1621 was a bountiful one. And the remaining colonists decided to celebrate with a feast, including 91 native Indians who had helped the pilgrims survive their first year. It is believed that the pilgrims would not have made it through the year without the help of the natives. The feast was more of a traditional English harvest festival than a true "thanksgiving" observance.
Thanksgiving is traditionally celebrated with a feast shared among friends and family. In both Canada and the United States, it is an important family gathering, and people often travel far distances to be with family members for the celebration. The Thanksgiving holiday is generally a "four-day" weekend in the United States. Thanksgiving is almost entirely celebrated at home, unlike Christmas, which is associated with a variety of shared public experiences (fireworks, caroling, etc.). In Canada, it is a three-day weekend as Thanksgiving falls on a Monday.
In USA, George Washington was the first to proclaim a National Day of Thanksgiving in 1789. But many did not agree with the idea of celebrating a national holiday which had its origin in the hardships of a few Pilgrims. President Thomas Jefferson dismissed the idea of having a national holiday for Thanksgiving. After 40 years of campaign, President Lincoln in 1863, proclaimed the last Thursday of November as a national day of Thanksgiving. President Roosevelt's attempt to celebrate one week prior to the proclaimed date met with disapproval and he had to change the date back. At last in 1941, the fourth Thursday of November was sanctioned by Congress as a legal holiday of Thanksgiving. Various events are organized to mark this occasion throughout USA. In New York City, the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade is held annually every Thanksgiving Day in Midtown Manhattan. The parade features moving stands with specific themes, scenes from Broadway plays, large balloons of cartoon characters and TV personalities, and high school marching bands. It always ends with the image of Santa Claus passing the reviewing stand.
Canadians trace the holiday to a feast held by Martin Frobisher in Newfoundland in 1578. It is also probable that American loyalists who immigrated to Canada after American independence brought with them many of their Thanksgiving traditions. The Thanksgiving celebration was held occasionally in English areas of British North America in the eighteenth century, especially in Nova Scotia. The holiday rose to much greater prominence with the arrival of the United Empire Loyalists fleeing the American Revolution. The first official Canadian Thanksgiving Day was celebrated on April 5, 1872 in gratitude for the Prince of Wales' recovery from serious illness. The holiday was not officially recognized again till 1879, when parliament declared Thanksgiving to be an annual national secular holiday. The date was moved several times, finally being set on its current date (the second Monday in October) in 1957.
Myths
There are many myths associated with this festival. Many Americans believe that
• The pilgrims held the first Thanksgiving
• Thanksgiving is about family
• Thanksgiving is about Religion
• The pilgrims ate turkey
• The pilgrims dressed in black
None of the above are facts but somehow a lot of people have come to believe them.
Celebrations
No Thanksgiving Day is complete without the grand Thanksgiving supper. Usually in Canada Thanksgiving dinner features turkey, mashed potatoes, squash, sweet potatoes, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, stuffing, cranberry sauce, gravy, and beverages. For dessert, various pies are served, particularly pumpkin pie, strawberry-rhubarb pie and pecan pie. The centerpiece of contemporary Thanksgiving in the United States and Canada is a large meal in the late afternoon or evening, starring a large roasted turkey. Because turkey is the most common main dish of a Thanksgiving dinner, thanksgiving is sometimes colloquially called Turkey Day. Many other foods are served alongside the turkey—so many that, because of the amount of food, the Thanksgiving meal is generally served midday or early afternoon to make time for all the eating, and preparation may begin at the crack of dawn or days before.
I’ll share my favorite recipe of mashed potatoes which you might try this season or in fact anytime of the year and be thankful!
Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes
Serves 8
You can prepare mashed potatoes several hours before dinner, but only use two-thirds of the cream. Half an hour before serving, place the potatoes in a heat-proof bowl set over a pan of barely simmering water; warm, stirring occasionally, until heated through. Just before serving, mix in the remaining cream.
2 large heads of garlic
1 teaspoon olive oil
4 potatoes, peeled and quartered
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter
1 1/4 cups heavy cream/skimmed milk
1 cup chopped spring onion
˝ cup finely chopped coriander leaves (cilantro)
Method:
1. Heat oven to 425°. Slice tops 1/4-inch off garlic heads, and discard. Coat heads with olive oil, and wrap heads in aluminum foil. Bake until tender and golden, about 25-30 minutes. Remove from oven, and let stand until cool enough to handle. Carefully peel garlic cloves; set aside.
2. Place potatoes in a large stockpot, cover with cold salted water, and bring to a boil. Cook until very tender, about 12 minutes. Drain in a colander, and pass through a sieve or food mill over a large bowl.
3. Heat butter and cream/milk in a saucepan until butter has melted and cream is hot. Pour over potatoes, season with salt and pepper, and stir well to combine. Add spring onions and coriander leaves, gently stir in the roasted garlic cloves and serve.
