I think for most of us it's turkey with the trimmings. We had ours last night and today went geocaching. But it all depends on where we grew up.
If it was observed at all in our Francophone community it was as a religious day. For me, Thanksgiving was a day off school and a time when Mom & Dad & 2 or 3 other couples went hunting. They were gone the entire weekend so there was no warm and fuzzy family get together; none of my friends and relatives celebrated this day either.
Saw a humorous comparison by Bruce McCall called "Talking Turkey A Tale of Two Thanksgivings" in Saturday's Globe & Mail
Occasion: Canadian -- Grateful celebration of a bountiful harvest. American -- Morbid remembrance of religious fanatics and starving Indians
Setting: Canadian -- Indian Summer American -- Late-November gloom
Time Frame: (I'd have said, participants) Canadian -- Immediate family American -- Immediate family; deadbeat relatives; a neighborhood loser; matriarch-patriarch* * - gaga
Bill of fare: Canadian -- Rosˇ wine; turkey; mashed potatoes; corn niblets; Jell-O American -- chickentails-wines-beers; turkey; sweet potatoes; squash; broccoli; corn pudding; cranberry sauce; pecan pie; pumpkin pie
Talk: Canadian -- Food-family-pet reminiscences; weather; new NHL season American -- Mom's drinking; relatives' brat kids; football; favorite TV shows; work problems; Dad's drinking; JFK buttbuttination theories
Activities: Canadian -- A nice walk; Percy Faith LPs; cleanup bee American -- Touch football; football on TV; football betting pool; football video games; internecine punch-outs
Lowest Moment: Canadian -- Leaving American -- Arriving
Highest Moment: Canadian -- Arriving American -- Leaving
