“...like, if Thanksgiving is different, what else is different?”
October 5, 2016 3:12 PM Subscribe
For Canadians, Thanksgiving Is a ‘Quieter’ Affair in October [The New York Times] Trying to explain their version of the holiday can be a thankless task for Canadians living in America. Most of the year, Canadians living in the United States look, talk and act so much like their neighbors that their nationality draws no attention at all. Autumn is a season of danger, though, when the mask of assimilation can be ripped off, forcing some Americans to face the unnerving, if fleeting, realization that Canada is an entirely different country. All it takes is one mention of Canadian Thanksgiving [wiki].
This was a terrible condescending article that The Onion would have written with more class and grace. On behalf of Canada, fuck you NYT. Canadian Thanksgiving doesn't need to justify its existence by being different somehow - Canada is its own country and we have our own holidays that are actually Canadian holidays regardless of how much you think you own Thanksgiving. This article does more in it's condescending tone to indicate the attitude that Canada isn't a "real country" than actually saying so.
I am coincidentally headed to Ottawa for Thanksgiving - not "Canadian Thanksgiving" mind you, just Thanksgiving - this year. And we'll celebrate again on your fake American Thanksgiving because why not and it's actually hard to find turkey products in October in the US vs November so I go along with your crazy belief that you have your own holidays.
posted by GuyZero at 3:24 PM on October 5, 2016 [15 favorites]
I am coincidentally headed to Ottawa for Thanksgiving - not "Canadian Thanksgiving" mind you, just Thanksgiving - this year. And we'll celebrate again on your fake American Thanksgiving because why not and it's actually hard to find turkey products in October in the US vs November so I go along with your crazy belief that you have your own holidays.
posted by GuyZero at 3:24 PM on October 5, 2016 [15 favorites]
I love that this article for the New York Times makes it feel like Canadians are this weird other-worldly thing, as if we're unicorns or something...
Don't worry, they do that to anybody who lives outside of Manhattan. They only recognized Brooklynites as human as of 2010.
posted by percor at 3:24 PM on October 5, 2016 [15 favorites]
Don't worry, they do that to anybody who lives outside of Manhattan. They only recognized Brooklynites as human as of 2010.
posted by percor at 3:24 PM on October 5, 2016 [15 favorites]
Also - Columbus Day?
Are Americans not yet collectively embarrassed enough by this yet? Because the rest of the world is kind of embarrassed for you. There's a lot of fremdschämen going on here.
posted by GuyZero at 3:29 PM on October 5, 2016 [31 favorites]
Are Americans not yet collectively embarrassed enough by this yet? Because the rest of the world is kind of embarrassed for you. There's a lot of fremdschämen going on here.
posted by GuyZero at 3:29 PM on October 5, 2016 [31 favorites]
Most of the year, Canadians living in the United States look, talk and act so much like their neighbors that their nationality draws no attention at all. Autumn is a season of danger, though, when the mask of assimilation can be ripped off
EH LIVE
posted by Atom Eyes at 3:29 PM on October 5, 2016 [31 favorites]
EH LIVE
posted by Atom Eyes at 3:29 PM on October 5, 2016 [31 favorites]
When American colleagues and relations ask about our Thanksgiving, the BS way I explain it is that it's colder up here, so our harvest is obviously earlier, right?
posted by thecjm at 3:30 PM on October 5, 2016 [10 favorites]
posted by thecjm at 3:30 PM on October 5, 2016 [10 favorites]
Wait until they find out about Canadian Christmas.
posted by percor at 3:32 PM on October 5, 2016 [28 favorites]
posted by percor at 3:32 PM on October 5, 2016 [28 favorites]
Also - Columbus Day?
Are Americans not yet collectively embarrassed enough by this yet? Because the rest of the world is kind of embarrassed for you. There's a lot of fremdschämen going on here.
here in berkeley i have monday off work for indigenous peoples' day, not columbus day. only a handful of places celebrate this in the US but it's a start
posted by burgerrr at 3:33 PM on October 5, 2016 [8 favorites]
Are Americans not yet collectively embarrassed enough by this yet? Because the rest of the world is kind of embarrassed for you. There's a lot of fremdschämen going on here.
here in berkeley i have monday off work for indigenous peoples' day, not columbus day. only a handful of places celebrate this in the US but it's a start
posted by burgerrr at 3:33 PM on October 5, 2016 [8 favorites]
I posted this on my Facebook timeline yesterday and got some ribbing from my American friends... who ribbed me about things no Canadian even cares about. "Aboot", "donut infatuation," "hockey", etc.
Thanksgiving has only has its own official holiday in Canada since 1957. Nobody in Canada could tell you just what the hell the holiday is for. It's a day off and you may or may not eat turkey. You might eat turkey on Sunday.
Anyway, November is Grey Cup, so no time for Thanksgiving anyway.
posted by My Dad at 3:33 PM on October 5, 2016 [2 favorites]
Thanksgiving has only has its own official holiday in Canada since 1957. Nobody in Canada could tell you just what the hell the holiday is for. It's a day off and you may or may not eat turkey. You might eat turkey on Sunday.
Anyway, November is Grey Cup, so no time for Thanksgiving anyway.
posted by My Dad at 3:33 PM on October 5, 2016 [2 favorites]
If you want a good dose of holiday-related Canadian superiority, ask a Canadian to talk about the difference between Remembrance Day and Memorial Day. Hoo boy.
posted by Space Coyote at 3:34 PM on October 5, 2016 [18 favorites]
posted by Space Coyote at 3:34 PM on October 5, 2016 [18 favorites]
Guy Zero, we are! we're mortified! some cities have changed the name.
posted by mollymillions at 3:34 PM on October 5, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by mollymillions at 3:34 PM on October 5, 2016 [2 favorites]
Wait until they find out about Canadian Christmas.
There is 'Boxing Day' in Canada. That's unique. And, like Canadian Thanksgiving, it's a holiday about nothing.
posted by My Dad at 3:34 PM on October 5, 2016 [5 favorites]
There is 'Boxing Day' in Canada. That's unique. And, like Canadian Thanksgiving, it's a holiday about nothing.
posted by My Dad at 3:34 PM on October 5, 2016 [5 favorites]
By the way, Happy Thanksgiving to all of my fellow Canadian MetaFilter members.
~(‾▿‾)~
posted by Fizz at 3:34 PM on October 5, 2016 [19 favorites]
~(‾▿‾)~
posted by Fizz at 3:34 PM on October 5, 2016 [19 favorites]
There is 'Boxing Day' in Canada. That's unique.
It's English. It doesn't have to be unique to still be Canadian. Which is like 75% of the current definition of what it means to be Canadian.
posted by GuyZero at 3:36 PM on October 5, 2016 [8 favorites]
It's English. It doesn't have to be unique to still be Canadian. Which is like 75% of the current definition of what it means to be Canadian.
posted by GuyZero at 3:36 PM on October 5, 2016 [8 favorites]
There is 'Boxing Day' in Canada. That's unique. And, like Canadian Thanksgiving, it's a holiday about nothing.
Boxing Day is an English tradition. It's supposed to be the day your employer gives you presents. I never got presents.
posted by fshgrl at 3:37 PM on October 5, 2016 [3 favorites]
Boxing Day is an English tradition. It's supposed to be the day your employer gives you presents. I never got presents.
posted by fshgrl at 3:37 PM on October 5, 2016 [3 favorites]
Wait until they find out about Canadian Christmas.
...I remember hanging my hockey skates over the fire place and barely being able to sleep waiting for Father Toque to come fill them with timbits, maple syrup and socialized medicine, then the next morning we'd all gather around the family moose singing Rush songs before tucking into the traditional Canadian Christmas dinner of poutine, milk bags, and Kraft Dinner.
posted by percor at 3:38 PM on October 5, 2016 [135 favorites]
...I remember hanging my hockey skates over the fire place and barely being able to sleep waiting for Father Toque to come fill them with timbits, maple syrup and socialized medicine, then the next morning we'd all gather around the family moose singing Rush songs before tucking into the traditional Canadian Christmas dinner of poutine, milk bags, and Kraft Dinner.
posted by percor at 3:38 PM on October 5, 2016 [135 favorites]
Another Canadian only holiday that we celebrate is the recently created 'Family Day' (aka Louis Riel Day), depending on where you live.
posted by Fizz at 3:38 PM on October 5, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by Fizz at 3:38 PM on October 5, 2016 [2 favorites]
There's also the recently created 'Family Day'
More like 'Vote for Dalton McGuinty Day" because there weren't any statutory holidays in stupid February.
posted by GuyZero at 3:39 PM on October 5, 2016 [4 favorites]
More like 'Vote for Dalton McGuinty Day" because there weren't any statutory holidays in stupid February.
posted by GuyZero at 3:39 PM on October 5, 2016 [4 favorites]
We have "Family Day" in British Columbia. Goddammit I will forever associate that public holiday with Christy Clark. Forever. She's inside of my head!
posted by My Dad at 3:39 PM on October 5, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by My Dad at 3:39 PM on October 5, 2016 [2 favorites]
I remember, as a kid, seeing Planes, Trains & Automobiles for the first time and being genuinely confused why this guy was so obsessively determined to get home for thanksgiving dinner.
posted by mannequito at 3:40 PM on October 5, 2016 [11 favorites]
posted by mannequito at 3:40 PM on October 5, 2016 [11 favorites]
Fizz: I love that this article for the New York Times makes it feel like Canadians are this weird other-worldly thing, as if we're unicorns or something...
You know, there are those who don't believe in Canada at all.
posted by Kattullus at 3:42 PM on October 5, 2016 [4 favorites]
You know, there are those who don't believe in Canada at all.
posted by Kattullus at 3:42 PM on October 5, 2016 [4 favorites]
See, as a Canadian, if I got myself into that whole P,T&A scenario I would have packed it in at that first motel and spent the weekend drinking wine and reading metafilter in the bathtub.
posted by mannequito at 3:45 PM on October 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by mannequito at 3:45 PM on October 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
Sorry, Katullus, there is a Canada. It exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy.
Sorry.
posted by percor at 3:45 PM on October 5, 2016 [16 favorites]
Sorry.
posted by percor at 3:45 PM on October 5, 2016 [16 favorites]
Nobody in Canada could tell you just what the hell the holiday is for.
HA-HA
posted by Alvy Ampersand at 3:45 PM on October 5, 2016 [3 favorites]
HA-HA
posted by Alvy Ampersand at 3:45 PM on October 5, 2016 [3 favorites]
You know, there are those who don't believe in Canada at all.
I grew up in Dallas, Texas and I'm not sure if this speaks more to the Irving Independent School Board or some larger problem with the Texas educational system, but I can recall one of our geography text books with an illustration of North America. The United States had all fifty states coloured and labelled, and above the US was a giant greyed out zone without any labelling at all.
*sighs*
posted by Fizz at 3:52 PM on October 5, 2016 [7 favorites]
I grew up in Dallas, Texas and I'm not sure if this speaks more to the Irving Independent School Board or some larger problem with the Texas educational system, but I can recall one of our geography text books with an illustration of North America. The United States had all fifty states coloured and labelled, and above the US was a giant greyed out zone without any labelling at all.
*sighs*
posted by Fizz at 3:52 PM on October 5, 2016 [7 favorites]
I tried using this article to torment my Canadian friends, but they just kept being super nice. I suggested that instead of turkey they eat fried beaver tail, and they told me that beaver tail was a delightful pastry they'd be happy to eat. Sigh. Canadians.
posted by acrasis at 3:54 PM on October 5, 2016 [10 favorites]
posted by acrasis at 3:54 PM on October 5, 2016 [10 favorites]
I've lived in Canada for nearly eight years now and my dear mom still doesn't understand that Canada has its own Thanksgiving. She still calls me on the American one asking what we are doing on our day off (this also happens on Memorial Day & Fourth of July).
posted by Kitteh at 4:00 PM on October 5, 2016 [7 favorites]
posted by Kitteh at 4:00 PM on October 5, 2016 [7 favorites]
I suggested that instead of turkey they eat fried beaver tail, and they told me that beaver tail was a delightful pastry they'd be happy to eat.
A few weeks ago I was driving with my mom down the TransCanada passed Banff. She literally squealed the tires peeling off the highway when I reminded her we could get Beaver Tails in Banff. Beaver Tails are serious business.
posted by selenized at 4:04 PM on October 5, 2016 [6 favorites]
A few weeks ago I was driving with my mom down the TransCanada passed Banff. She literally squealed the tires peeling off the highway when I reminded her we could get Beaver Tails in Banff. Beaver Tails are serious business.
posted by selenized at 4:04 PM on October 5, 2016 [6 favorites]
I grew up in Dallas, Texas and I'm not sure if this speaks more to the Irving Independent School Board or some larger problem with the Texas educational system, but I can recall one of our geography text books with an illustration of North America. The United States had all fifty states coloured and labelled, and above the US was a giant greyed out zone without any labelling at all.
Was it February? That's just the old snow. It definitely says CANADA underneath, though. My uncle lives right under the crossbar to the middle "A."
posted by percor at 4:04 PM on October 5, 2016 [39 favorites]
Was it February? That's just the old snow. It definitely says CANADA underneath, though. My uncle lives right under the crossbar to the middle "A."
posted by percor at 4:04 PM on October 5, 2016 [39 favorites]
You keep your marshmallows off my sweet potatoes, America. They're sweet enough.
posted by the uncomplicated soups of my childhood at 4:05 PM on October 5, 2016 [11 favorites]
posted by the uncomplicated soups of my childhood at 4:05 PM on October 5, 2016 [11 favorites]
Wikipedia tells me that they're not actual beaver tails but sort of a long flat donut.
posted by octothorpe at 4:11 PM on October 5, 2016
posted by octothorpe at 4:11 PM on October 5, 2016
I heard they don't even HAVE Fourth of July! It's, like, NOTHING Day to them!
posted by briank at 4:12 PM on October 5, 2016 [6 favorites]
posted by briank at 4:12 PM on October 5, 2016 [6 favorites]
You keep your marshmallows off my sweet potatoes, America. They're sweet enough.
I was joking about this with someone yesterday. He said his southern family would have canned asparagus that was covered with marshmallows and brown sugar and baked for hours (this is his story, I swear) at Thanksgiving... I asked if there was any asparagus left after hours of baking and he said there wasn't really, it just seemed like an elaborate excuse to eat baked marshmallows. I figure the only way it would be more American would be to sprinkle fried onions on top.
posted by GuyZero at 4:15 PM on October 5, 2016 [2 favorites]
I was joking about this with someone yesterday. He said his southern family would have canned asparagus that was covered with marshmallows and brown sugar and baked for hours (this is his story, I swear) at Thanksgiving... I asked if there was any asparagus left after hours of baking and he said there wasn't really, it just seemed like an elaborate excuse to eat baked marshmallows. I figure the only way it would be more American would be to sprinkle fried onions on top.
posted by GuyZero at 4:15 PM on October 5, 2016 [2 favorites]
Don't believe the lamestream media, folks. Canada is a real country.
posted by indubitable at 4:15 PM on October 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by indubitable at 4:15 PM on October 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
I hear their stuffing is made with Timbits.
posted by taterpie at 4:19 PM on October 5, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by taterpie at 4:19 PM on October 5, 2016 [2 favorites]
she doesn't understand Boxing Day either.
What's not to understand? A national day for post-Christmas box fort making? Beloved by kids and cats in all the land?
It's a pretty natural impulse, have empty boxes, make forts. What better excuse for a holiday when it's snowy outside?
posted by bonehead at 4:20 PM on October 5, 2016 [5 favorites]
What's not to understand? A national day for post-Christmas box fort making? Beloved by kids and cats in all the land?
It's a pretty natural impulse, have empty boxes, make forts. What better excuse for a holiday when it's snowy outside?
posted by bonehead at 4:20 PM on October 5, 2016 [5 favorites]
The centerpiece of Thanksgiving dinner in Canada is, frequently, roast turkey with stuffing and gravy. Side dishes are made with fall vegetables like sweet potatoes and squash. Dessert will be pie. Everybody’s favorite is pumpkin.
Fellow Canadian here. I'm confused by the whole premise of the article--Americans searching for an explanation about the differences between American and Canadian Thanksgiving, while Canadians are sheepishly unable to explain our customs. Aren't all of the things described above also the centerpiece of American Thanksgiving? How are the two different? Are there actual cultural variables at play? Or this entirely about nothing more than the date on the calendar?
posted by obscure simpsons reference at 4:22 PM on October 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
Fellow Canadian here. I'm confused by the whole premise of the article--Americans searching for an explanation about the differences between American and Canadian Thanksgiving, while Canadians are sheepishly unable to explain our customs. Aren't all of the things described above also the centerpiece of American Thanksgiving? How are the two different? Are there actual cultural variables at play? Or this entirely about nothing more than the date on the calendar?
posted by obscure simpsons reference at 4:22 PM on October 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
I just celebrate both in the same year when I get the opportunity. Double the turkey and trimmings. Nice to have fam on either side :-)
posted by Jubal Kessler at 4:24 PM on October 5, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by Jubal Kessler at 4:24 PM on October 5, 2016 [2 favorites]
the pilgrims were murderers and turkey tastes like napkins
posted by poffin boffin at 4:24 PM on October 5, 2016 [12 favorites]
posted by poffin boffin at 4:24 PM on October 5, 2016 [12 favorites]
I like that my (Canada's) Thanksgiving comes on a Monday and not a Thursday, because satellite days off during the week drive me crazy, and I would have to burn a vacation day to bridge the gap to the weekend if I was roped into American Thanksgiving.
I am envious that you guys get football all day on your Thanksgiving though.
posted by joelhunt at 4:31 PM on October 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
I am envious that you guys get football all day on your Thanksgiving though.
posted by joelhunt at 4:31 PM on October 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
Or this entirely about nothing more than the date on the calendar?
It's about how Sir John A should have built a wall on our southern border to keep undesirables from destroying our culture.
posted by GuyZero at 4:33 PM on October 5, 2016 [3 favorites]
It's about how Sir John A should have built a wall on our southern border to keep undesirables from destroying our culture.
posted by GuyZero at 4:33 PM on October 5, 2016 [3 favorites]
Boxing Day is a cherished tradition where friends and family gather on the day after Christmas and punch one another in the face for money.
posted by dr_dank at 4:33 PM on October 5, 2016 [6 favorites]
posted by dr_dank at 4:33 PM on October 5, 2016 [6 favorites]
I am attending Canadian Thanksgiving this Sunday. It is a large outdoor feed, where we dress for the weather, and there are so many good things. Oh yes.
posted by Oyéah at 4:33 PM on October 5, 2016
posted by Oyéah at 4:33 PM on October 5, 2016
Surely you mean "O yeah".
posted by any portmanteau in a storm at 4:49 PM on October 5, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by any portmanteau in a storm at 4:49 PM on October 5, 2016 [2 favorites]
the pilgrims were murderers and turkey tastes like napkins
The Pilgrims were the Taliban of England, but I don't know what the hell you're doing to your turkey.
posted by TheWhiteSkull at 4:51 PM on October 5, 2016 [10 favorites]
The Pilgrims were the Taliban of England, but I don't know what the hell you're doing to your turkey.
posted by TheWhiteSkull at 4:51 PM on October 5, 2016 [10 favorites]
Canadians have Thanksgiving in October because we like Christmas better. This way we can get Thanksgiving over with sooner which means all the Christmas stuff can come out without decoration conflict. We do have a couple of week of Christma'ween but it's over quick enough.
posted by Jalliah at 4:51 PM on October 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
You know, I used to make fun of this as an American (been dating a Canadian for years) but it's really not that complicated. Late November is winter in most of Canada, way too late for a harvest festival -- everything's dead. Right now is peak fall, in fact Ottawa is literally having its peak foliage this very weekend, so it's perfect timing for a fall harvest festival. In contrast, where I am right now in Baltimore there are barely any leaves dropping yet and I wore a t-shirt yesterday.
Obviously there are parts of the US near canada with similar climates, but most of the population in Canada lives in a compressed strip near the border, whereas US has all sorts of climates, with a fairly different average for fall.
I do still make fun of it for being on a Monday.
posted by advil at 4:54 PM on October 5, 2016 [2 favorites]
Obviously there are parts of the US near canada with similar climates, but most of the population in Canada lives in a compressed strip near the border, whereas US has all sorts of climates, with a fairly different average for fall.
I do still make fun of it for being on a Monday.
posted by advil at 4:54 PM on October 5, 2016 [2 favorites]
HA-HA
From the link to the MetaTalk comment:
"(Canadian Thanksgiving) was to commemorate surviving an unsuccessful attempt to find the Northwest Passage,"
This is a load of unmitigated moose-puckey.
posted by My Dad at 4:59 PM on October 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
From the link to the MetaTalk comment:
"(Canadian Thanksgiving) was to commemorate surviving an unsuccessful attempt to find the Northwest Passage,"
This is a load of unmitigated moose-puckey.
posted by My Dad at 4:59 PM on October 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
Well it's not totally made up but it's a bit misphrased. More accurately the first Canadian Thanksgiving was celebrated by a bunch of guys who had managed not to die while failing to find the Northwest passage.
posted by GuyZero at 5:00 PM on October 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by GuyZero at 5:00 PM on October 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
More accurately the first Canadian Thanksgiving was celebrated by a bunch of guys who had managed not to die while failing to find the Northwest passage.
And yet still failed to acknowledge the Inuit who helped them out and told them "You know, that was a bad idea to begin with. Had you asked..."
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 5:09 PM on October 5, 2016 [5 favorites]
And yet still failed to acknowledge the Inuit who helped them out and told them "You know, that was a bad idea to begin with. Had you asked..."
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 5:09 PM on October 5, 2016 [5 favorites]
I'm not sure if Frobisher actually cooperated with the natives in the area... internet sources say he lost a few men to the Inuit and that he captured an Inuit man who was brought back to England.
http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/sir-martin-frobisher/ - who can argue with a source as iconic as "thecanadianencyclopedia.ca"?
posted by GuyZero at 5:16 PM on October 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/sir-martin-frobisher/ - who can argue with a source as iconic as "thecanadianencyclopedia.ca"?
posted by GuyZero at 5:16 PM on October 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
I grew up in Dallas, Texas and I'm not sure if this speaks more to the Irving Independent School Board or some larger problem with the Texas educational system, but I can recall one of our geography text books with an illustration of North America. The United States had all fifty states coloured and labelled, and above the US was a giant greyed out zone without any labelling at all.
Oh, it's not just Texas. Our textbooks in Michigan were like that, too. Michigan. A state that is adjacent to... (let me go check how many provinces, since I didn't learn this in elementary school) a Canadian province. From Michigan it might actually have been useful to know where the Canadian capitol was, and its largest city, you know? Nope, big gray mass.
posted by Joey Buttafoucault at 5:17 PM on October 5, 2016 [7 favorites]
Oh, it's not just Texas. Our textbooks in Michigan were like that, too. Michigan. A state that is adjacent to... (let me go check how many provinces, since I didn't learn this in elementary school) a Canadian province. From Michigan it might actually have been useful to know where the Canadian capitol was, and its largest city, you know? Nope, big gray mass.
posted by Joey Buttafoucault at 5:17 PM on October 5, 2016 [7 favorites]
Whenever I hear someone from Michigan speak, I assume they're Canadian until they actually get to the part where they're from Michigan.
posted by indubitable at 5:21 PM on October 5, 2016 [4 favorites]
posted by indubitable at 5:21 PM on October 5, 2016 [4 favorites]
I'm not sure if Frobisher actually cooperated with the natives in the area...
Yeah. That was his problem.
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 5:27 PM on October 5, 2016 [2 favorites]
Yeah. That was his problem.
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 5:27 PM on October 5, 2016 [2 favorites]
By the way, Happy Thanksgiving to all of my fellow Canadian MetaFilter members.
~(‾▿‾)~
posted by Fizz at 18:34 on October 5
Well you don't have to moon the American members, sheesh.
posted by Johnny Wallflower at 5:31 PM on October 5, 2016 [3 favorites]
~(‾▿‾)~
posted by Fizz at 18:34 on October 5
Well you don't have to moon the American members, sheesh.
posted by Johnny Wallflower at 5:31 PM on October 5, 2016 [3 favorites]
They're a fairly significant country, they have their own alicorn.
posted by Wolfdog at 5:37 PM on October 5, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by Wolfdog at 5:37 PM on October 5, 2016 [2 favorites]
Now you're going to tell me that these "Canadians" don't celebrate the 4th of July and Washington's Birthday! Poppycock, I say!
Poppycock!!
posted by GenjiandProust at 5:58 PM on October 5, 2016
Poppycock!!
posted by GenjiandProust at 5:58 PM on October 5, 2016
Wikipedia tells me that they're not actual beaver tails but sort of a long flat donut.
Yeah this is one of the Canadian things that I just don't get even after being here for 20+ years. They're elephant ears with your choice of syrup on top. Bog standard state fair fare.
posted by thecjm at 6:14 PM on October 5, 2016
Yeah this is one of the Canadian things that I just don't get even after being here for 20+ years. They're elephant ears with your choice of syrup on top. Bog standard state fair fare.
posted by thecjm at 6:14 PM on October 5, 2016
ut I can recall one of our geography text books with an illustration of North America. The United States had all fifty states coloured and labelled, and above the US was a giant greyed out zone without any labelling at all.
if it's any consolation, there used to be pizza joint in Vancouver whose placemats were whimsical maps of Canada ... with everything south of the border a blank marked U.S.A. (Unexplored Southern Area).
posted by philip-random at 6:18 PM on October 5, 2016 [5 favorites]
if it's any consolation, there used to be pizza joint in Vancouver whose placemats were whimsical maps of Canada ... with everything south of the border a blank marked U.S.A. (Unexplored Southern Area).
posted by philip-random at 6:18 PM on October 5, 2016 [5 favorites]
not actual beaver tails but sort of a long flat donut.
The fried dough version is pretty popular nowadays and you can find it everywhere but when I was young the only beaver tail we'd eat was attached to our national aquatic & industrious rodent. I was never a fan and we never ate it at a Thanksgiving. So yes some Canadians do actually eat fried beaver tail.
The OP on the other hand, I think this article is largely designed around expatriate Ms. Borel's statement:
“It’s a classic example of the narcissism of small differences... We are like these uppity little Hobbits taking pride in being a little better, a little more moral, a little more socially conscious than Americans."
Ouch. I also love when articles about Canada ignores everybody who isn't Anglo and Protestant. Yeah we eat turkey, but also tourtière, ketchup aux fruits and any number of other foods that are neither bland nor Anglais. But Canadians do love doughnuts - my cousin just had a wedding where they had a tower of doughnuts instead of a cake. And it was AWESOME!
posted by Ashwagandha at 6:22 PM on October 5, 2016 [6 favorites]
The fried dough version is pretty popular nowadays and you can find it everywhere but when I was young the only beaver tail we'd eat was attached to our national aquatic & industrious rodent. I was never a fan and we never ate it at a Thanksgiving. So yes some Canadians do actually eat fried beaver tail.
The OP on the other hand, I think this article is largely designed around expatriate Ms. Borel's statement:
“It’s a classic example of the narcissism of small differences... We are like these uppity little Hobbits taking pride in being a little better, a little more moral, a little more socially conscious than Americans."
Ouch. I also love when articles about Canada ignores everybody who isn't Anglo and Protestant. Yeah we eat turkey, but also tourtière, ketchup aux fruits and any number of other foods that are neither bland nor Anglais. But Canadians do love doughnuts - my cousin just had a wedding where they had a tower of doughnuts instead of a cake. And it was AWESOME!
posted by Ashwagandha at 6:22 PM on October 5, 2016 [6 favorites]
But Canadians do love doughnuts
#notallCanadians
posted by jeather at 6:23 PM on October 5, 2016 [3 favorites]
#notallCanadians
posted by jeather at 6:23 PM on October 5, 2016 [3 favorites]
Fine. Not all Canadians. Just the cool ones.
posted by Ashwagandha at 6:25 PM on October 5, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by Ashwagandha at 6:25 PM on October 5, 2016 [2 favorites]
As a Canadian who lived in the US for a bunch of years, this is not really a thing. Like, the fact that we celebrate Thanksgiving a month earlier than you is basically about as significant as the fact that we spell colour with a u. It;s the same kind of gross holiday, there just isn't a shopping extravaganza associated with it. But that latter part is only because it's in October. If it was closer to Christmas, I'm sure we'd do the same consumerist stuff you do.
posted by 256 at 6:27 PM on October 5, 2016
posted by 256 at 6:27 PM on October 5, 2016
Speaking of consumerist stuff...
I guess if we're gonna talk turkey:
Growing up on the Canadian side from the beauty of the State of Michigan, we got grocery flyers in our local newspaper for grocery stores stateside.
One Christmas, Farmer Jack over in Port Huron had some stupidly cheap sale on turkeys. The price per pound was crazy cheap, even after currency conversion. So my dad was sent on a mission to purchase one.
Given that it was so cheap, and my dad being someone whose idea of cooking is reheating soup in the microwave, he thought he should get the largest turkey he could find.
He arrives home with a 26 pound turkey. We were a family of four. My mom has never dried out a turkey in her life, but it took all of her powers for that thing not to be dry. Also, IIRC, putting that thing in the oven at 4 or 5 a.m. It barely fit in the oven we had. Like, it was almost touching the broiler.
Also, the savings on the turkey were squandered because an appropriately capacious roasting pan needed to be purchased to accommodate this thing.
As noted, that thing went into the oven early. My mom did the calculation on the heat and time, and frequently basted it through the day.
And thank dog or flying spaghetti monster or whomever - well mom, actually - because we were eating frozen turkey leftovers for ages.
Anyway - not a Thanksgiving story, but a thanks-giving story.
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 6:31 PM on October 5, 2016 [10 favorites]
I guess if we're gonna talk turkey:
Growing up on the Canadian side from the beauty of the State of Michigan, we got grocery flyers in our local newspaper for grocery stores stateside.
One Christmas, Farmer Jack over in Port Huron had some stupidly cheap sale on turkeys. The price per pound was crazy cheap, even after currency conversion. So my dad was sent on a mission to purchase one.
Given that it was so cheap, and my dad being someone whose idea of cooking is reheating soup in the microwave, he thought he should get the largest turkey he could find.
He arrives home with a 26 pound turkey. We were a family of four. My mom has never dried out a turkey in her life, but it took all of her powers for that thing not to be dry. Also, IIRC, putting that thing in the oven at 4 or 5 a.m. It barely fit in the oven we had. Like, it was almost touching the broiler.
Also, the savings on the turkey were squandered because an appropriately capacious roasting pan needed to be purchased to accommodate this thing.
As noted, that thing went into the oven early. My mom did the calculation on the heat and time, and frequently basted it through the day.
And thank dog or flying spaghetti monster or whomever - well mom, actually - because we were eating frozen turkey leftovers for ages.
Anyway - not a Thanksgiving story, but a thanks-giving story.
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 6:31 PM on October 5, 2016 [10 favorites]
From Michigan it might actually have been useful to know where the Canadian capitol was, and its largest city, you know? Nope, big gray mass.
Ok, look. I'm probably not supposed to tell you this, but that big gray/grey mass on your maps? It's deliberate. Part of national security. We're a big grey mass, nothing interesting to see here. Security through obscurity, man. Just like the fact that most Americans don't believe us when we say our capital is some city called "Ottawa", because they've never heard of it and think we're pulling their leg.
We then have a whole level of measures to confuse and baffle, including:
-we have a unit of currency called a "loonie"
-a 30 degree day is a nice hot one, eh?
-the metric system for most things
-sports like hockey, curling, and lacrosse as well as Canadian football - which looks a lot like American football but has a larger field, one less down, and rewards failure
-signs in English and French
-having holidays with the same name and different dates (Thanksgiving) or the same dates but different names (Memorial Day/Rememberance Day) or just really close but just different from the US (July 1/July 4)
The whole setup is much like how our polite and humble exterior hides a creeping sense of moral superiority and smugness.
Canada is a nation of layers.
posted by nubs at 6:33 PM on October 5, 2016 [5 favorites]
Ok, look. I'm probably not supposed to tell you this, but that big gray/grey mass on your maps? It's deliberate. Part of national security. We're a big grey mass, nothing interesting to see here. Security through obscurity, man. Just like the fact that most Americans don't believe us when we say our capital is some city called "Ottawa", because they've never heard of it and think we're pulling their leg.
We then have a whole level of measures to confuse and baffle, including:
-we have a unit of currency called a "loonie"
-a 30 degree day is a nice hot one, eh?
-the metric system for most things
-sports like hockey, curling, and lacrosse as well as Canadian football - which looks a lot like American football but has a larger field, one less down, and rewards failure
-signs in English and French
-having holidays with the same name and different dates (Thanksgiving) or the same dates but different names (Memorial Day/Rememberance Day) or just really close but just different from the US (July 1/July 4)
The whole setup is much like how our polite and humble exterior hides a creeping sense of moral superiority and smugness.
Canada is a nation of layers.
posted by nubs at 6:33 PM on October 5, 2016 [5 favorites]
Although upon further reflection, it occurs to me that Steve Martin and John Candy did go out for one heck of a rip, A-fuckin rights bud.
posted by mannequito at 6:37 PM on October 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by mannequito at 6:37 PM on October 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
a load of unmitigated moose-puckey...failed to acknowledge the Inuit who helped them out and told them "You know, that was a bad idea to begin with. Had you asked..."
What's more Canadian than that?!?
posted by Alvy Ampersand at 6:43 PM on October 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
What's more Canadian than that?!?
posted by Alvy Ampersand at 6:43 PM on October 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
Storeybook gardens
Who still has thier Tweedeldee and Tweedledum photo.
posted by clavdivs at 6:49 PM on October 5, 2016 [6 favorites]
Who still has thier Tweedeldee and Tweedledum photo.
posted by clavdivs at 6:49 PM on October 5, 2016 [6 favorites]
Ug, the Canadians are right about this one.The timing of our American Thanksgiving is all fucked up and terrible. The weather is worse, being on a Thursday is terrible, it gets dark earlier, and it is way too close to Christmas. So there's lots of travel stress, lots of people don't get the Friday off, or need to take extra PTO, and then we have to turn around and do it again in less than a month. It's a basically arbitrary date anyway, we should move it back to October, eliminate Columbus Day, and add a Junteeth and/or women's sufferage federal holiday in the summer.
posted by ghharr at 6:51 PM on October 5, 2016 [12 favorites]
posted by ghharr at 6:51 PM on October 5, 2016 [12 favorites]
Even though it's a Christmas thing, I now have an overwhelming urge to go listen to Dave cooks the turkey from the vinyl cafe.
posted by aclevername at 7:00 PM on October 5, 2016 [13 favorites]
posted by aclevername at 7:00 PM on October 5, 2016 [13 favorites]
Wait until they find out about Canadian Christmas.
When's Canadian Christmas again? I can barely keep track of Canadian Thanksgiving, which is currently 0.75850 American Thanksgivings. (1.31842 loons to the turkey)
posted by sebastienbailard at 7:17 PM on October 5, 2016 [2 favorites]
When's Canadian Christmas again? I can barely keep track of Canadian Thanksgiving, which is currently 0.75850 American Thanksgivings. (1.31842 loons to the turkey)
posted by sebastienbailard at 7:17 PM on October 5, 2016 [2 favorites]
clavdivs: Who still has thier Tweedeldee and Tweedledum photo.
*raises hand*
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 7:19 PM on October 5, 2016 [2 favorites]
*raises hand*
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 7:19 PM on October 5, 2016 [2 favorites]
Boxing day an English thing? Your Canadian arses in parsley, it's all over the UK. Seriously, do better. Sir John A. would have cut you for saying that.
We don't have Washington's Birthday for the same reason you don't celebrate Benedict Arnold's: on the wrong side. We do (in Ontario, at least) have Simcoe Day as a holiday. Simcoe apparently once had the drop on Washington, but Sincoe was worried that it was ungentlemanly to ambush an officer from behind.
posted by scruss at 7:46 PM on October 5, 2016 [8 favorites]
We don't have Washington's Birthday for the same reason you don't celebrate Benedict Arnold's: on the wrong side. We do (in Ontario, at least) have Simcoe Day as a holiday. Simcoe apparently once had the drop on Washington, but Sincoe was worried that it was ungentlemanly to ambush an officer from behind.
posted by scruss at 7:46 PM on October 5, 2016 [8 favorites]
Oh, it's not just Texas. Our textbooks in Michigan were like that, too. Michigan. A state that is adjacent to... (let me go check how many provinces, since I didn't learn this in elementary school) a Canadian province. From Michigan it might actually have been useful to know where the Canadian capitol was, and its largest city, you know? Nope, big gray mass.
I seem to remember the US as just a pink mass - and I was in my late teens (or older?) before I finally figured out where Chicago and Detroit were. I mean, I knew where Windsor is, and Detroit's close to that, right?
But it wasn't until 2008 (in my 30s and living in the US) that I actually learned the US States. Thanks, endless Democratic conventions!
(but seriously: 50? that's way too many. Even China has fewer provinces.)
posted by jb at 7:52 PM on October 5, 2016 [2 favorites]
I seem to remember the US as just a pink mass - and I was in my late teens (or older?) before I finally figured out where Chicago and Detroit were. I mean, I knew where Windsor is, and Detroit's close to that, right?
But it wasn't until 2008 (in my 30s and living in the US) that I actually learned the US States. Thanks, endless Democratic conventions!
(but seriously: 50? that's way too many. Even China has fewer provinces.)
posted by jb at 7:52 PM on October 5, 2016 [2 favorites]
My (US) city has adopted Indigenous People's Day this year, too. Personally, I still observe Columbo Day, where there's always "just one more thing" to celebrate.
posted by The Underpants Monster at 8:07 PM on October 5, 2016 [16 favorites]
posted by The Underpants Monster at 8:07 PM on October 5, 2016 [16 favorites]
Didn't the Onion already cover the differences between Canada and the US?
It even has its own currency, says Dorman, various denominations of “dollars” that can be exchanged for the many products manufactured in Canada, including Canadian bacon and ice.
posted by adamg at 8:22 PM on October 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
It even has its own currency, says Dorman, various denominations of “dollars” that can be exchanged for the many products manufactured in Canada, including Canadian bacon and ice.
posted by adamg at 8:22 PM on October 5, 2016 [1 favorite]
Wait til someone tells them about the Antipodes, where we have Christmas AND Boxing Day, but no Thanksgiving. Plus a dollar that's not the same dollar, and a game called football that's not NFL but also not soccer.
posted by une_heure_pleine at 9:02 PM on October 5, 2016 [4 favorites]
posted by une_heure_pleine at 9:02 PM on October 5, 2016 [4 favorites]
Look, you guys up there are lucky we let you drive in the US.
posted by Johnny Wallflower at 9:10 PM on October 5, 2016
posted by Johnny Wallflower at 9:10 PM on October 5, 2016
Boxing day an English thing? Your Canadian arses in parsley, it's all over the UK.
Yes. And it originated in England.
posted by Sys Rq at 9:12 PM on October 5, 2016
Yes. And it originated in England.
posted by Sys Rq at 9:12 PM on October 5, 2016
As a Manitoban you have to be ridiculously proud of Louis Riel Day. Nothing like celebrating your failed armed uprising by a man who felt that he was a prophet ordained by God.
posted by WinnipegDragon at 9:38 PM on October 5, 2016 [4 favorites]
posted by WinnipegDragon at 9:38 PM on October 5, 2016 [4 favorites]
CBC as it happens was predictably heated about this story. So much so they played the yodelling turkey song.
posted by chapps at 12:10 AM on October 6, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by chapps at 12:10 AM on October 6, 2016 [3 favorites]
“We are like these uppity little Hobbits taking pride in being a little better, a little more moral, a little more socially conscious than Americans. But when you look at both of us, you can’t see the difference, really. Even on the holiday that you associate with tryptophan comas and drawing hand turkeys, we still need to assert our subtle moral superiority over Americans.”
As both an American who grew up in Canada, and a Canadian who lives in the USA, and someone who likes to travel, I can confirm that this is pretty accurate. (Except maybe for the Hobbits part - most Canadians are normal size.)
Growing up, I definitely experienced the superposition of moral superiority and vague inferiority complex that Canada expresses with respect to the US. Sometimes in the same sentence.
When I traveled to the UK from Canada, everybody was friendly and thought it was great that I was visiting from "America". If the country that spawned both of us can't quite get it right, how can we look like distinct countries to the rest of the world? (Of course, "appearing as distinct countries" is much more important to Canada than to the US, according to the usual pattern.)
posted by theorique at 1:03 AM on October 6, 2016 [3 favorites]
As both an American who grew up in Canada, and a Canadian who lives in the USA, and someone who likes to travel, I can confirm that this is pretty accurate. (Except maybe for the Hobbits part - most Canadians are normal size.)
Growing up, I definitely experienced the superposition of moral superiority and vague inferiority complex that Canada expresses with respect to the US. Sometimes in the same sentence.
When I traveled to the UK from Canada, everybody was friendly and thought it was great that I was visiting from "America". If the country that spawned both of us can't quite get it right, how can we look like distinct countries to the rest of the world? (Of course, "appearing as distinct countries" is much more important to Canada than to the US, according to the usual pattern.)
posted by theorique at 1:03 AM on October 6, 2016 [3 favorites]
Wikipedia tells me that they're not actual beaver tails but sort of a long flat donut.
Phew! Not that I have a problem with the idea of eating beaver, but a few people were getting super excited about them and for some reason my brain refused to accept that anyone could get excited about eating ACTUAL beaver tails. Long flat donuts are where it's at.
I'm Scottish though, and we killed all our beavers a while ago, so i'm maybe not the best judge of beaver extremity eating.
The way the article portrays Canadian Thanksgiving is kinda like how the rest of the world reacts to Americans and the way they revere American Thanksgiving.
posted by trif at 2:24 AM on October 6, 2016 [1 favorite]
Phew! Not that I have a problem with the idea of eating beaver, but a few people were getting super excited about them and for some reason my brain refused to accept that anyone could get excited about eating ACTUAL beaver tails. Long flat donuts are where it's at.
I'm Scottish though, and we killed all our beavers a while ago, so i'm maybe not the best judge of beaver extremity eating.
The way the article portrays Canadian Thanksgiving is kinda like how the rest of the world reacts to Americans and the way they revere American Thanksgiving.
posted by trif at 2:24 AM on October 6, 2016 [1 favorite]
thought it was great that I was visiting from "America"
That is another reason for the confusion. Technically you are all "Americans" What we need is a way to differentiate the 3rd of Americans that are US citizens from the rest of the Americans.
*patronising lecture from a non American ends here*
posted by trif at 2:29 AM on October 6, 2016
That is another reason for the confusion. Technically you are all "Americans" What we need is a way to differentiate the 3rd of Americans that are US citizens from the rest of the Americans.
*patronising lecture from a non American ends here*
posted by trif at 2:29 AM on October 6, 2016
But Canadians do love doughnuts
One of my friends lived in Japan for awhile and when he asked someone there what they know of Canadians the response was "You're honest and eat donuts."
My sisters and I are angry that the chocolate eclair won the Tim Horton's bring back a classic donut contest but they didn't bring it back anyway.
In contrast, where I am right now in Baltimore there are barely any leaves dropping yet and I wore a t-shirt yesterday.
I'm in Toronto and also wore a t-shirt yesterday. Probably today too. It's been pretty mild up here but after the heat wave about three weeks ago it did initially feel quite cooler.
Look, you guys up there are lucky we let you drive in the US.
I despise driving in the States (or at least those south of Ontario). Way to many state troopers looking to ticket you for driving at a bearable speed. I've had some friends from the States have two consistent observations, being that we're allowed to drive faster up here and being astounded that you can just walk outside at night anywhere in Toronto without fearing for your safety. I'm very skeptical that dangerous at night in the States is actually a real thing rather than a misconception. I've had fellow Canadians from "out East" and from northern Ontario express their fear of Toronto's streets. I may suffer a misconception about driving speeds in the States myself, though I have to say the use of the Imperial system is baffling to me. Perhaps it's the fact that I have to keep glancing at the smaller MPH numbers on the dashboard.
posted by juiceCake at 4:22 AM on October 6, 2016 [2 favorites]
One of my friends lived in Japan for awhile and when he asked someone there what they know of Canadians the response was "You're honest and eat donuts."
My sisters and I are angry that the chocolate eclair won the Tim Horton's bring back a classic donut contest but they didn't bring it back anyway.
In contrast, where I am right now in Baltimore there are barely any leaves dropping yet and I wore a t-shirt yesterday.
I'm in Toronto and also wore a t-shirt yesterday. Probably today too. It's been pretty mild up here but after the heat wave about three weeks ago it did initially feel quite cooler.
Look, you guys up there are lucky we let you drive in the US.
I despise driving in the States (or at least those south of Ontario). Way to many state troopers looking to ticket you for driving at a bearable speed. I've had some friends from the States have two consistent observations, being that we're allowed to drive faster up here and being astounded that you can just walk outside at night anywhere in Toronto without fearing for your safety. I'm very skeptical that dangerous at night in the States is actually a real thing rather than a misconception. I've had fellow Canadians from "out East" and from northern Ontario express their fear of Toronto's streets. I may suffer a misconception about driving speeds in the States myself, though I have to say the use of the Imperial system is baffling to me. Perhaps it's the fact that I have to keep glancing at the smaller MPH numbers on the dashboard.
posted by juiceCake at 4:22 AM on October 6, 2016 [2 favorites]
It's at its worst when you're driving an unfamiliar rental truck and the truck has the inner/outer kph/mph spedometer labeling swapped.
posted by sebastienbailard at 4:43 AM on October 6, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by sebastienbailard at 4:43 AM on October 6, 2016 [1 favorite]
I'm in Toronto and also wore a t-shirt yesterday. Probably today too. It's been pretty mild up here but after the heat wave about three weeks ago it did initially feel quite cooler.
Meanwhile Saskatoon had 10-20cm of snow last night.
posted by advil at 5:31 AM on October 6, 2016 [1 favorite]
Meanwhile Saskatoon had 10-20cm of snow last night.
posted by advil at 5:31 AM on October 6, 2016 [1 favorite]
Growing up my father would take the day off work and let us all stay home from school so we could celebrate American Thanksgiving, because one can never be too thankful (plus, November sucks and it deserves an extra day off). I have very fond memories of watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade (which I still, to this day, refer to as the 'Macy's Day Parade'). Then we'd have a full, if slightly more modest T-Day dinner spread. The chief difference between the two events is that for Canadian Thanksgiving we'd have pumpkin pie; pecan pie for American.
posted by Mrs. Rattery at 6:17 AM on October 6, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by Mrs. Rattery at 6:17 AM on October 6, 2016 [2 favorites]
That is another reason for the confusion. Technically you are all "Americans" What we need is a way to differentiate the 3rd of Americans that are US citizens from the rest of the Americans.
In Spanish or Portuguese, maybe, but NEVER in English. Canadians are the one group perfectly happy to let the United Statsians keep the label "American". It's so indelibly linked with them in our brains that I, certainly, cannot fathom claiming it as a continental label.
Maybe that's because - unlike the rest of the Americas - we fear being swamped culturally by the US and disappearing entirely. They are so close to our Anglo culture - and they already swamp our media. It really is like living next to a cultural elephant, one who doesnt particularly care where it steps. Do New Zealanders feel this way about Australia, or the Scots about the English?
Our francophone culture is protected somewhat by the language difference. I remember a friend who became a separatist convert, going on about the threat to Quebec culture. But as far I can tell, Quebec has a healthier cultural industry and local identity than most of the rest of Canada.
The moral is: I will describe myself or a shared cultural practice as "North American" - particularly outside of North America - but I am never "American".
posted by jb at 6:17 AM on October 6, 2016 [8 favorites]
In Spanish or Portuguese, maybe, but NEVER in English. Canadians are the one group perfectly happy to let the United Statsians keep the label "American". It's so indelibly linked with them in our brains that I, certainly, cannot fathom claiming it as a continental label.
Maybe that's because - unlike the rest of the Americas - we fear being swamped culturally by the US and disappearing entirely. They are so close to our Anglo culture - and they already swamp our media. It really is like living next to a cultural elephant, one who doesnt particularly care where it steps. Do New Zealanders feel this way about Australia, or the Scots about the English?
Our francophone culture is protected somewhat by the language difference. I remember a friend who became a separatist convert, going on about the threat to Quebec culture. But as far I can tell, Quebec has a healthier cultural industry and local identity than most of the rest of Canada.
The moral is: I will describe myself or a shared cultural practice as "North American" - particularly outside of North America - but I am never "American".
posted by jb at 6:17 AM on October 6, 2016 [8 favorites]
As a Canadian living in the American South, I am positively gleeful in referring to American Thanksgiving as "Yanksgiving."
The Southerners don't find that nearly as funny as I do.
posted by joannemerriam at 6:27 AM on October 6, 2016 [8 favorites]
The Southerners don't find that nearly as funny as I do.
posted by joannemerriam at 6:27 AM on October 6, 2016 [8 favorites]
You're not really Canadian until you have moved the United States and been photographed with your Hudson's Bay Blanket.
posted by srboisvert at 6:50 AM on October 6, 2016 [4 favorites]
posted by srboisvert at 6:50 AM on October 6, 2016 [4 favorites]
Clearly my wife needs dig out her HB Blanket jacket and hit up some local photo hotspots then.
posted by GuyZero at 7:02 AM on October 6, 2016
posted by GuyZero at 7:02 AM on October 6, 2016
It's at its worst when you're driving an unfamiliar rental truck and the truck has the inner/outer kph/mph spedometer labeling swapped.
What's worse is when your parents buy a Ford station wagon without AC in Montreal (because AC was a $1k option back in the early 80s, and $1k was worth a lot, and who needs AC in Canada? Just open a window, eh?) and then you move to Texas a month later, at the start of summer.
posted by a lungful of dragon at 7:13 AM on October 6, 2016 [1 favorite]
What's worse is when your parents buy a Ford station wagon without AC in Montreal (because AC was a $1k option back in the early 80s, and $1k was worth a lot, and who needs AC in Canada? Just open a window, eh?) and then you move to Texas a month later, at the start of summer.
posted by a lungful of dragon at 7:13 AM on October 6, 2016 [1 favorite]
I despise driving in the States (or at least those south of Ontario). Way to many state troopers looking to ticket you for driving at a bearable speed.
I can hardly believe that American cops are more speeding ticket happy than cops in Ontario. The average car speed drops precipitously when I cross the ON/QC border.
posted by jeather at 7:29 AM on October 6, 2016
I can hardly believe that American cops are more speeding ticket happy than cops in Ontario. The average car speed drops precipitously when I cross the ON/QC border.
posted by jeather at 7:29 AM on October 6, 2016
my brain refused to accept that anyone could get excited about eating ACTUAL beaver tails…I'm Scottish though
Beaver tails are gross to someone from the land of haggis and blood pudding?
posted by Johnny Wallflower at 7:31 AM on October 6, 2016
Beaver tails are gross to someone from the land of haggis and blood pudding?
posted by Johnny Wallflower at 7:31 AM on October 6, 2016
Nothing like celebrating your failed armed uprising by a man who felt that he was a prophet ordained by God.
Or a day to celebrate a man who helped create the province of Manitoba and fought for the rights of French Canadians, Métis and Catholics in Canada.
I can confirm that this is pretty accurate.
Nothing like a post about Canada in the American media to bring out our culturally self-loathing.
posted by Ashwagandha at 7:35 AM on October 6, 2016 [3 favorites]
Or a day to celebrate a man who helped create the province of Manitoba and fought for the rights of French Canadians, Métis and Catholics in Canada.
I can confirm that this is pretty accurate.
Nothing like a post about Canada in the American media to bring out our culturally self-loathing.
posted by Ashwagandha at 7:35 AM on October 6, 2016 [3 favorites]
What's worse is when your parents buy a Ford station wagon without AC in Montreal (because AC was a $1k option back in the early 80s, and $1k was worth a lot, and who needs AC in Canada? Just open a window, eh?) and then you move to Texas a month later, at the start of summer.
I definitely give you credit that moving from Canada to Texas in the summer is probably the worst thing possible.
However, people live in the south without air conditioning all the time. Nothing like being on a "drive" with the family in a coupe (2 windows!) sitting at a dead stop in the direct sun on the Dallas highways. It was not until the 2010's that I had a car that had an air-conditioner that worked and didn't overheat the car (of course that's due to financial circumstances, not the car manufacturers).
posted by LizBoBiz at 7:40 AM on October 6, 2016
I definitely give you credit that moving from Canada to Texas in the summer is probably the worst thing possible.
However, people live in the south without air conditioning all the time. Nothing like being on a "drive" with the family in a coupe (2 windows!) sitting at a dead stop in the direct sun on the Dallas highways. It was not until the 2010's that I had a car that had an air-conditioner that worked and didn't overheat the car (of course that's due to financial circumstances, not the car manufacturers).
posted by LizBoBiz at 7:40 AM on October 6, 2016
That is another reason for the confusion. Technically you are all "Americans" What we need is a way to differentiate the 3rd of Americans that are US citizens from the rest of the Americans.
Canadians are not Americans. Leave us out of it.
posted by My Dad at 7:45 AM on October 6, 2016 [3 favorites]
Canadians are not Americans. Leave us out of it.
posted by My Dad at 7:45 AM on October 6, 2016 [3 favorites]
not actual beaver tails but sort of a long flat donut.
everything confusing in canada is actually just some kind of donut
posted by poffin boffin at 8:18 AM on October 6, 2016 [3 favorites]
everything confusing in canada is actually just some kind of donut
posted by poffin boffin at 8:18 AM on October 6, 2016 [3 favorites]
everything confusing in canada is actually just some kind of donut
Well now I understand Prorogation even less.
posted by sincarne at 9:08 AM on October 6, 2016 [4 favorites]
Well now I understand Prorogation even less.
posted by sincarne at 9:08 AM on October 6, 2016 [4 favorites]
Well now I understand Prorogation even less.
Basically, the government takes time off for donuts as opposed to just dealing with the donuts already at Parliament.
posted by nubs at 9:09 AM on October 6, 2016 [6 favorites]
Basically, the government takes time off for donuts as opposed to just dealing with the donuts already at Parliament.
posted by nubs at 9:09 AM on October 6, 2016 [6 favorites]
That is another reason for the confusion. Technically you are all "Americans" What we need is a way to differentiate the 3rd of Americans that are US citizens from the rest of the Americans.
Nope. Sorry. You can take up the old-timey practice of calling us all "Columbians," or you can inform your idiot geography teacher that history is a thing that happened and call us what we actually are. "American" will earn you a very polite boot to the head, especially if you're British, since many of us are descended from people who fled the Americans and fought them off while waving your goddamn flag, you fucking oblivious ingrates.
posted by Sys Rq at 10:00 AM on October 6, 2016 [7 favorites]
Nope. Sorry. You can take up the old-timey practice of calling us all "Columbians," or you can inform your idiot geography teacher that history is a thing that happened and call us what we actually are. "American" will earn you a very polite boot to the head, especially if you're British, since many of us are descended from people who fled the Americans and fought them off while waving your goddamn flag, you fucking oblivious ingrates.
posted by Sys Rq at 10:00 AM on October 6, 2016 [7 favorites]
everything confusing in canada is actually just some kind of donut
There have been studies about this. I think some of the researchers just won a Nobel prize in physics. As William Lyon Mackenzie King almost said: "If some countries have too much history, we have too much topology."
posted by Kabanos at 10:17 AM on October 6, 2016 [2 favorites]
There have been studies about this. I think some of the researchers just won a Nobel prize in physics. As William Lyon Mackenzie King almost said: "If some countries have too much history, we have too much topology."
posted by Kabanos at 10:17 AM on October 6, 2016 [2 favorites]
Ok, look. I'm probably not supposed to tell you this, but that big gray/grey mass on your maps? It's deliberate. Part of national security. We're a big grey mass, nothing interesting to see here. Security through obscurity, man. ... We then have a whole level of measures to confuse and baffle, including:
...
-signs in English and French
Dude, you are not kidding with that. The French signs pissed my dad off so much that one time we drove to Montreal. Missing exits on the way home, "401 Ouest? How was I supposed to know I needed to take the exit for 401 Ouest?? Arghgh!"
Your security measures almost worked, but we did manage to make it out alive and take a fair amount of your precious maple syrup with us.
posted by Joey Buttafoucault at 10:32 AM on October 6, 2016 [2 favorites]
...
-signs in English and French
Dude, you are not kidding with that. The French signs pissed my dad off so much that one time we drove to Montreal. Missing exits on the way home, "401 Ouest? How was I supposed to know I needed to take the exit for 401 Ouest?? Arghgh!"
Your security measures almost worked, but we did manage to make it out alive and take a fair amount of your precious maple syrup with us.
posted by Joey Buttafoucault at 10:32 AM on October 6, 2016 [2 favorites]
Who still has thier Tweedeldee and Tweedledum photo
Holy shit. This made my day.
Was there a miniature village at Storeybook Gardens or am I losing my Canadian mind, eh?
posted by Dressed to Kill at 10:45 AM on October 6, 2016
Holy shit. This made my day.
Was there a miniature village at Storeybook Gardens or am I losing my Canadian mind, eh?
posted by Dressed to Kill at 10:45 AM on October 6, 2016
Metafilter: actually just some kind of donut
posted by 2soxy4mypuppet at 10:49 AM on October 6, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by 2soxy4mypuppet at 10:49 AM on October 6, 2016 [1 favorite]
Was there a miniature village at Storeybook Gardens or am I losing my Canadian mind, eh?
I think that was Cullen Gardens in Whitby.
posted by TheWhiteSkull at 11:31 AM on October 6, 2016 [3 favorites]
I think that was Cullen Gardens in Whitby.
posted by TheWhiteSkull at 11:31 AM on October 6, 2016 [3 favorites]
That was absolutely Cullen Gardens in Whitby. (Since dismantled, sadly. Also, Cullen Gardens is no longer a thing.) I'm sure there are plenty of others, though.
posted by Sys Rq at 11:45 AM on October 6, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by Sys Rq at 11:45 AM on October 6, 2016 [1 favorite]
Mm-mm, would you like to take a walk?
Mm-mm, tell me what do you have in mind?
Mm-mm, just a stroll in Cullen Gardens
Lovely Cullen Gardens
It's a happy dream come true
posted by TheWhiteSkull at 12:17 PM on October 6, 2016
Mm-mm, tell me what do you have in mind?
Mm-mm, just a stroll in Cullen Gardens
Lovely Cullen Gardens
It's a happy dream come true
posted by TheWhiteSkull at 12:17 PM on October 6, 2016
It's a day off and you may or may not eat turkey.
We never did a turkey. Perhaps a roast, maybe a ham. Since Father Renault died, we have only ever had Thanksgiving Chinese take-out. We are all perfectly happy with this.
posted by Capt. Renault at 2:05 PM on October 6, 2016 [1 favorite]
We never did a turkey. Perhaps a roast, maybe a ham. Since Father Renault died, we have only ever had Thanksgiving Chinese take-out. We are all perfectly happy with this.
posted by Capt. Renault at 2:05 PM on October 6, 2016 [1 favorite]
Way to many state troopers looking to ticket you for driving at a bearable speed.
That possibly explains something my wife and I experienced a few years ago driving on a four-lane highway through North Dakota or Minnesota; we were at the tail end of a line of cars in the far-right lane and couldn't figure out why the hell no one was passing in the left, as we were moving a good 10 miles under the limit. So eventually, after swearing at the Americans, we moved into the left and just sped up, still under the limit, passing at least 10 cars until we reached the front, where there was a cop car leading the slow-ass procession. There was no indication this was actually a parade or funeral cortege or anything, so we passed them too - again, under the limit - and returned to the right lane. Couldn't figure out why the heck people weren't passing.
posted by Alvy Ampersand at 2:33 PM on October 6, 2016 [1 favorite]
That possibly explains something my wife and I experienced a few years ago driving on a four-lane highway through North Dakota or Minnesota; we were at the tail end of a line of cars in the far-right lane and couldn't figure out why the hell no one was passing in the left, as we were moving a good 10 miles under the limit. So eventually, after swearing at the Americans, we moved into the left and just sped up, still under the limit, passing at least 10 cars until we reached the front, where there was a cop car leading the slow-ass procession. There was no indication this was actually a parade or funeral cortege or anything, so we passed them too - again, under the limit - and returned to the right lane. Couldn't figure out why the heck people weren't passing.
posted by Alvy Ampersand at 2:33 PM on October 6, 2016 [1 favorite]
The way the article portrays Canadian Thanksgiving is kinda like how the rest of the world reacts to Americans and the way they revere American Thanksgiving.
It's the only holiday we have that isn't explicitly about war, patriotism, oppression, or buying things, and the idealized way to spend it is counting our blessings and having a nice meal with people we love. Why wouldn't we revere that?
And don't worry, tomorrow the NYT will go back to ignoring Canada and continuing their assault on the enigma that is California Today.
posted by psoas at 3:00 PM on October 6, 2016 [3 favorites]
It's the only holiday we have that isn't explicitly about war, patriotism, oppression, or buying things, and the idealized way to spend it is counting our blessings and having a nice meal with people we love. Why wouldn't we revere that?
And don't worry, tomorrow the NYT will go back to ignoring Canada and continuing their assault on the enigma that is California Today.
posted by psoas at 3:00 PM on October 6, 2016 [3 favorites]
And don't worry, tomorrow the NYT will go back to ignoring Canada
I've never understood why Canadians have this deep desire to be recognized by our neighbor to the south—we have only slightly more people than California, although California's economy is bigger.
Besides, even as the incumbent Canadian media is dying, the New York Times is moving into Canada. The Americans... really do love us... *sniff*
posted by My Dad at 3:58 PM on October 6, 2016
I've never understood why Canadians have this deep desire to be recognized by our neighbor to the south—we have only slightly more people than California, although California's economy is bigger.
Besides, even as the incumbent Canadian media is dying, the New York Times is moving into Canada. The Americans... really do love us... *sniff*
posted by My Dad at 3:58 PM on October 6, 2016
We have four million fewer people than California, actually.
posted by Sys Rq at 4:48 PM on October 6, 2016
posted by Sys Rq at 4:48 PM on October 6, 2016
And a smaller percentage of our landmass is presently on fire.
posted by TheWhiteSkull at 7:00 PM on October 6, 2016 [4 favorites]
posted by TheWhiteSkull at 7:00 PM on October 6, 2016 [4 favorites]
But more water, so there.
I hear Nestle is attempting to change that.
We share the Great Lakes. I'm surprised Trump hasn't proclaimed the Great Lakes aren't really great any more. They're loser Lakes and only he can make them Great again.
posted by juiceCake at 7:32 PM on October 6, 2016 [1 favorite]
I hear Nestle is attempting to change that.
We share the Great Lakes. I'm surprised Trump hasn't proclaimed the Great Lakes aren't really great any more. They're loser Lakes and only he can make them Great again.
posted by juiceCake at 7:32 PM on October 6, 2016 [1 favorite]
Canada should do what Thailand did with the Pad Thai
The only thing I can think of that would fit the bill would be poutine. It's pretty ubiquitous across Canada now. Maybe Justin can get a law passed that makes anything that isn't just curds, gravy and fries to be called faux-tine. I can't think of too many other dishes we can all agree on.
As an example, I was at a funeral last week in the North and at the supper there were two different conversations/disagreements about what constitutes French Canadian meat pie (tourtière) and that was within one extended family from the same small community! It was almost as heated a conversation as the conversation about the performance of the Canadiens coach last season! Good thing we didn't talk about cipâtes as I think it'd come to blows.
posted by Ashwagandha at 8:53 AM on October 7, 2016 [3 favorites]
The only thing I can think of that would fit the bill would be poutine. It's pretty ubiquitous across Canada now. Maybe Justin can get a law passed that makes anything that isn't just curds, gravy and fries to be called faux-tine. I can't think of too many other dishes we can all agree on.
As an example, I was at a funeral last week in the North and at the supper there were two different conversations/disagreements about what constitutes French Canadian meat pie (tourtière) and that was within one extended family from the same small community! It was almost as heated a conversation as the conversation about the performance of the Canadiens coach last season! Good thing we didn't talk about cipâtes as I think it'd come to blows.
posted by Ashwagandha at 8:53 AM on October 7, 2016 [3 favorites]
We have four million fewer people than California, actually.
Huh. I guess it just adds to my argument. Can anyone name the second-most populous US state after California? I can't, off the top of my head.
posted by My Dad at 11:45 AM on October 7, 2016
Huh. I guess it just adds to my argument. Can anyone name the second-most populous US state after California? I can't, off the top of my head.
posted by My Dad at 11:45 AM on October 7, 2016
I'd wager that a good proportion of well-informed Americans know it's Texas, but I wouldn't think anyone outside the country would really know or care.
It's like: I'm pretty sure that UP is the most populous state in India, but even as a demography nerd I really can't say what's next.
posted by psoas at 2:28 PM on October 7, 2016
It's like: I'm pretty sure that UP is the most populous state in India, but even as a demography nerd I really can't say what's next.
posted by psoas at 2:28 PM on October 7, 2016
Wait- I thought the UP was in Michigan.
posted by TheWhiteSkull at 3:51 PM on October 7, 2016
posted by TheWhiteSkull at 3:51 PM on October 7, 2016
Wait- I thought the UP was in Michigan.
Apparently they have one in India too—Utter Pradesh is how they say "Upper Peninsula" in their language.
I remember when I found out there is a Great Lakes region in Kenya. As a Michigander, I felt cheated.
Whenever I hear someone from Michigan speak, I assume they're Canadian until they actually get to the part where they're from Michigan.
I'm from Michigan, and whenever I'm in Ontario, I am charmed by their Canadian accent. I have friends who moved to Canada some years ago, and I've enjoyed watching the migration of their spelling and accents.
posted by not that girl at 5:00 PM on October 7, 2016
Apparently they have one in India too—Utter Pradesh is how they say "Upper Peninsula" in their language.
I remember when I found out there is a Great Lakes region in Kenya. As a Michigander, I felt cheated.
Whenever I hear someone from Michigan speak, I assume they're Canadian until they actually get to the part where they're from Michigan.
I'm from Michigan, and whenever I'm in Ontario, I am charmed by their Canadian accent. I have friends who moved to Canada some years ago, and I've enjoyed watching the migration of their spelling and accents.
posted by not that girl at 5:00 PM on October 7, 2016
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posted by Fizz at 3:17 PM on October 5, 2016 [23 favorites]