Happy Turkey Day!

Okay, so it's not quite Thanksgiving Day yet. We still have another eight hours to go. (Or sixteen, since we should probably be on Canadian time for this joyous Canadian holiday.

But, who cares? It's time for turkey, pumpkin pies, and giving thanks!

Tomorrow, I am reigning in between six and eleven non-Canadians to celebrate with me (including H.). I admit it -- trying to tell an American about Canadian Thanksgiving is a tough one. Americans find a Canadian Thanksgiving just about as logical as a Columbus Day turkey. Perhaps it's just that they cannot fathom anyone on the planet celebrating -- well, what is it we're thankful for, exactly? -- on a day other than the monumental gongshow that American Thanksgiving really is.

And that made absolutely no sense.

But seriously.

I like Thanksgiving in Canada much better, regardless of any bias I may have due to my Canuck background. First, Thanksgiving in America is a complete gongshow. They put the holiday wayyy too close to Christmas. I know I'm a little more Christmas-happy than everyone I know (and by that, I mean a lot more), but to me, the end of November is already Christmas season. I don't have to like waiting for turkey just to put up my Christmas decorations.

Second, as nice as it is to give thanks, it's just turkey and mashed potatoes. Why fly half-way across the country for that? Canadian Thanksgiving is much better. We still pull out all the stops for an amazing dinner, and we spend it with friends and family. But it's not the "be all and end all" to holidays; it's low-key, and that's one of its major selling points. We understand that Christmas comes soon, which means more family and more turkey.

Which brings me to the other good point that our Thanksgiving is in October. It makes much more sense to have a break in turkey. That way, you're not sick of it by the time Christmas rolls around, since Thanksgiving is inevitably synonymous with a couple weeks of turkey buns for lunch...

Whatever your nationality, be happy that Turkey Day is tomorrow. Have a good meal with your loved ones, and let them know you're thankful to have them in your life.

Because that's what it's really all about.

*gobble gobble*