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Key Differences Between Thanksgiving and Christmas
Americans and Canadians have just celebrated Thanksgiving. But what’s it all about – and how does it differ from Christmas? If you are considering house removals to America or Canada, you will certainly need to know. Here is Hamiltons’ Removals guide to the differences between the two, and how both are celebrated in the two countries.
The Roots of Thanksgiving and Christmas
While Christmas Day celebrates the birth of Jesus on December 25, Thanksgiving Day is more of a movable feast, just like Easter. It is most widely celebrated in Canada and the USA; in the former on the second Monday in October, whereas in the latter it takes place on the fourth Thursday in November.
There are several different theories about when Thanksgiving Day started in America. Many believe it dates back to the Pilgrim Fathers, who first came to America in 1620 on the vessel the Mayflower; a tradition developed where they sat down with Native Americans to give thanks for the previous year’s harvest.
Others dispute this idea, saying that the tradition began earlier than that, and in other parts of the country where new settlers had also arrived. However, the underlying reasons for the celebration are widely accepted.
In Canada, it is also unclear when the tradition began; some say it was down to 16th Century English migrants, while others have traced it to French explorers in the following century. Originally Canadians observed Thanksgiving Day on November 6, but a Canadian Act of Parliament saw it moved to the October date.
What Happens on Thanksgiving Day?
On Thanksgiving Day, the principal tradition in the US is to share a family meal, go to church, or to either attend a sporting event in person or watch it on TV. There is a full programme of basketball, American football and ice hockey games not just on the Thursday but across the whole weekend.
Different cities also have Thanksgiving parades; examples include the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade in New York, the ABC Dunkin’ Donuts Parade in Philadelphia, and the more traditional American Hometown Thanksgiving Parade in Plymouth, Massachusetts.
There is no great tradition of decorating the home or buying presents for Thanksgiving; those are reserved for Christmas. However, what Americans call ‘the holiday season’ generally begins with Thanksgiving, and the Friday after Thanksgiving Day is known as Black Friday. This originally marked the start of the Christmas shopping season, but has now become a day when stores across the globe offer special discounts.
In Canada, because it is celebrated a month earlier, Christmas isn’t so much of a factor. Thanksgiving Day is still a national holiday (apart from in the provinces of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia) as it is in the USA.
In both countries, families often travel long distances to be together on the day itself. Turkeys are the centrepoint of most traditional Thanksgiving meals, accompanied by gravy, stuffing, vegetables and other foodstuffs native to the respective countries.
Christmas in the USA and Canada
In both countries, Christmas Day is celebrated much as it is in the UK; presents are generally placed under the tree and opened on Christmas morning (although sometimes the adults might open family gifts on Christmas Eve). Children hang stockings by their bed or the fireplace, ready for Santa to fill them overnight.
The main meal is usually turkey, although some households prefer ham or roast beef. However, while Canadians generally have a Christmas pudding after the main course, Americans opt for a range of desserts, including pastries, biscuits and cheesecake. As a member of the Commonwealth, Canada also broadcasts the King’s Christmas Speech.
House Removals to America and Canada with Hamiltons Removals
If you are interested in international removals to Canada or the USA, then Hamiltons Removals can provide a complete package. We offer a choice of deep-sea removals options: with our dedicated service you have sole use of a shipping container, or you can choose the groupage option where the container will be shared with other customers’ belongings. Smaller items can be sent via airfreight.
Hamiltons also offer plenty of optional extras, including a packing and unpacking service, insurance, professional cleaning, and storage facilities.
We can help you move to all the major and minor destinations in both countries, including Calgary, Montreal, Ottawa and Quebec in Canada, and New York, Los Angeles, Chicago and San Francisco in the USA. For more details about moving house to Canada, click here; and if you are interested in an American move, follow this link.
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