A Canadian Thanksgiving in England

When I talk about celebrating Canadian Thanksgiving in October, many of my friends in the UK are perplexed. “It’s a bit early, isn’t it?” they ask. Most people have no idea Canadians celebrate Thanksgiving at a different time, assuming we are either part of the American celebration in November, or that we don’t celebrate at all.

Canadian Thanksgiving is celebrated on the second Monday in October, with family and friends joining together to enjoy a big turkey dinner. (Some families celebrate on the Sunday instead.)

As many of you already know, I grew up in Canada. However, as I’ve lived here in the UK more than half my life now, much of my cultural identity is British. However, on the second weekend in October, you will generally find me in the kitchen making pumpkin pie and getting ready for a celebration of Canadian Thanksgiving with family and friends.

The History of Thanksgiving

There are a lot of conflicting theories behind the histories of both Canadian Thanksgiving and American Thanksgiving.

The pilgrim’s celebration of their first harvest in 1621 is the event that is widely thought of as “the first thanksgiving” when it comes to the American celebrations. However it was not until 1863 that President Lincoln officially declared an actual day of Thanksgiving. Sarah Josepha Hale, the editor of Godey’s Lady’s Book (and author of Mary Had a Little Lamb!) had actually been campaigning for a national Thanksgiving holiday for 36 years by that point. However it does seem likely that for President Lincoln it more to do with trying to inspire a population weary of civil war than with the pilgrims.

Canadian Thanksgiving does not appear to be based on the story of the pilgrims either, although many Canadians, including me, have family connections to the brave souls who came over on the Mayflower. One theory about the first Canadian Thanksgiving refers to a celebratory meal held by Martin Frobisher when he arrived in Canada in 1578. Another references a series of meals hosted by Samuel de Champlain in Port Royal in 1606. Champlain’s dinner were actually meant to help prevent scurvy amongst the population, but descriptions of the events actually sound like there was a bit more beer than turkey involved.

In truth, the Indigenous people of North America have a history of celebrating the fall harvest that goes a long way further back than 1578 or 1621. It seems likely the pilgrims were inspired by them – and perhaps Martin Frobisher was too!

The first official Canadian Thanksgiving after Confederation took place in April 1872 to celebrate the recovery of the Prince of Wales from an illness. While Canadian Thanksgiving evolved into a celebration of our blessings and the abundance in our lives over the years, the date was not fixed. However in 1957 Parliament declared a Thanksgiving holiday every second Monday in October and the date finally stuck.

Canadian Thanksgiving in the UK

In the United Kingdom, there is no corporate, secular celebration of Thanksgiving. We have “Harvest Festivals” in some villages and schools and “Harvest Sunday” in churches, but there is no holiday. Finding traditional ingredients in a country that does not celebrate Thanksgiving in the same way can be challenging!

If you are putting together a Thanksgiving celebration abroad, here are som ideas for how to make your gathering as authentic as possible.

Ideas for Thanksgiving Decorations

I’m now able to find fall decorations much more easily online, including leaf garlands. Craft stores also have Thanksgiving materials available. Most grocery stores and farmer’s markets sell pumpkins, gourds and squashes for decorating.

Every year I buy an autumn wreath to display on our door from Emma at Green Parlour, a wonderful local florist.

You can see a selection of some of the wreaths that Emma has made for me over the years over on Instagram.

A Canadian Thanksgiving Dinner Menu in England

It is definitely easier to celebrate Thanksgiving now than it was when I first arrived in England. Back then, finding anything even remotely familiar to create a traditional Thanksgiving meal in October was nigh on impossible. I still remember surprised looks I got when I asked about buying fresh turkey in a British butchers one October in the early 1990’s. Cranberry sauce was still not really a thing over here and pumpkins were not for eating except if you were making soup.

Even today, fresh whole turkeys are generally only available at Christmastime (although my friend can get one in November for American Thanksgiving), so I’ll cook a chicken – the biggest one I can find – or maybe even two of them. I will refer to these chickens as “turkey” and for just this one day my family will indulge my delusion. After all, the chickens will taste fairly similar to a turkey, served with the usual Thanksgiving dishes.

We enjoy mashed and roast potatoes, cranberry sauce, gravy, stuffing and vegetables with our main course. We now often serve Yorkshire puddings as well. This is a new tradition we have created as a family, and not something I had when I was in Canada. However, Yorkshire puddings are never a bad idea!!

My homemade cranberry sauce is a favourite at our house, but I still adore Ocean Spray Cranberry Sauce – particularly the jellied kind that comes in a can. I know, what self respecting food writer would admit to this? I’m far too honest for my own good! However, I love everything from the satisfying plop when you shake it out of the can to how it looks in my late Mom’s heart shaped dish, the one that always graces our Thanksgiving table. While cranberry sauce is now widely available in jars in the UK, I have only managed to find it in this particular jellied form at Partridge’s in London (not an affiliate link).

I also have a soft spot for Stove Top stuffing, which I now generally serve alongside my lovingly homemade Apricot, Celery and Pecan Stuffing. As you can see if you follow the (affiliate) link, Stove Top stuffing is a terrible price in the UK. It’s also not very good for you, I sometimes treat my family just for old times’ sake.

Thanksgiving Dessert

For dessert at our Canadian Thanksgiving celebration, there will be pumpkin pie made with tinned Pumpkin puree. I actually prefer canned pumpkin puree to fresh pumpkin. (Many people will think this is sacrilege but it’s my opinion and I’m sticking to it.)

Pie pumpkins and carving pumpkins are actually two very different things. The quality of your pumpkin determines the quality of your baked goods. Proper pie pumpkins are hard to find in the UK. I have yet to see a variety of pumpkin highlighted in any store so it’s pot luck as to whether you get a sweet pumpkin or a more fibrous, less flavourful one.

When I first arrived in England tinned pumpkin was almost impossible to find, but it is available in more places now. I try to buy Libby’s brand as it is the one I remember and I follow the pumpkin pie recipe on the label of the can, just my late Mom did.

I often serve a pumpkin cake as well. Sometimes it is a Spicy Pumpkin Bundt Cake (there’s a gluten free option) and others this Easy Pumpkin Cake with a cream cheese frosting.

The Spirit of Thanksgiving

Barring the turkey, my Canadian Thanksgiving in the UK is pretty similar to the celebrations that take place in Canada and the United States. If you too are planning a Thanksgiving dinner outside of North America I hope these ideas and recipes will help.

Whatever we eat, it’s always a pleasure to come together with family and friends to celebrate our blessings. At the end of the day, that is what is important.

Whenever and wherever you celebrate, I wish you a very Happy Thanksgiving!