Thanksgiving and Moose Hunting

Okay so first of all, I must say that ONLY at JHBC will class be postponed due to a successful moose hunt. We got word at our break (about 10:30) that Scott had shot a huge moose and so they stopped class while everyone had to go "help" with it. I mean, they actually did need a few more people as there was like only 3 guys up there but seriously...most the school left. It was hilarious and I just had to let you all know so you can laugh with us.

Now, I know that Thanksgiving is over but I just got my dinner last night and people were asking me all about it and it's funny because the first thing they ask is like about where it comes from and stuff. That kind of historical info is apparently WAY more important to Americans. Theirs is like to do with Pilgrims and Indians (they never call them Natives or anything, always Indians) and such. So I was like, "uhhh, a celebration of the harvest I think" and well, have you ever thought about it? We don't really seem to care too much about the history so much as the food.

So anyways, I looked it up because I was curious and it DOES celebrate the harvest now and ever since 1959 when Parliament officially designated it the second Monday in October saying it was to be "A Day of General Thanksgiving to Almighty God for the bountiful harvest with which Canada has been blessed". But it had been celebrated before in all different ways and for all different reasons! For instance, the Natives all had harvest celebrations but the main guy who started thanksgiving celebrations was Martin Frobisher who was an explorer and was celebrating his safe return home. Then there were the French settlers who celebrated the Order of Good Cheer. Then after the Seven Years War, people celebrated "thanksgiving" and and then after the American Revolution those loyal to the British brought their traditions over.

The first time Thanksgiving was a civic holiday was April 5, 1872, celebrating the recovery of the Prince of Wales from an illness. After 1879 it was observed annually but announced each year on a different day and for different reasons for which to be thankful for.

So really, we do have quite an interesting history surrounding our thanksgiving...who would've guessed?!?