No Thanksgiving for Us

Many of my friends from the US are totally shocked and dismayed when I tell them that in England, we do not celebrate Thanksgiving. It is, after all, a specifically American celebration. I sometimes think that they actually feel sorry for me as they tuck in to turkey and apple and all the trimmings.

Thanksgiving is celebrated on the fourth Thursday in November and celebrates the end of the harvest. The origins of the celebration go back to the Pilgrims who celebrated their harvest in 1621.

Although this is an American celebration it is similar to the Harvest Festival Celebrations in UK. There is a big difference though because Thanksgiving is not a religious festival, as such but Harvest Festival is solely a religious festival celebrated within the Church of England around September 23^rd which is the end of the harvest.

Harvest Festival goes back to pagan times and was celebrated by Druids and Celts in the British Isles. So, all these festivals are linked together historically and traditionally.

In the US Thanksgiving is the start of what is called the ‘holiday season’ and this goes on until January 1^st. In UK we don’t start our ‘holiday season’ until 24^th December which is Christmas Eve and the festivities continue until twelfth night which is exactly twelve days from Christmas.

So, in US you are all very fortunate because you get to celebrate Thanksgiving and then Christmas. We have to wait a little longer for our feast. Even that is different. We don’t serve pumpkin pie, or apple pie and we don’t usually serve sweet potatoes. Our menu is, traditionally, turkey, roast potatoes, stuffing, bread sauce, brussel sprouts, carrots and gravy. Dessert is Christmas pudding and brandy sauce, rum sauce, or cream.

So, while you are enjoying your Thanksgiving celebrations and starting your holiday season, spare a little though for us across the Atlantic who are still working and waiting for Christmas to come.

Happy Thanksgiving