Happy Halloween!

In honour of Halloween on Saturday, here is an article from the Canadian Press and published on Yahoo! Canada, which outlines ways in which Canadians observe and celebrate this event:

OTTAWA – The annual celebration of ghosts and witches will be in full swing Saturday, as kids make the rounds of their neighbourhoods in pursuit of holiday treats.

In honour of Halloween, Statistics Canada has rolled out some facts and figures on everything from pumpkins to zombies to give Canadians a better understanding of some familiar items and characteristics associated with the holiday.

Trick-or-Treaters:

I enjoy watching hockey games and figure skating. I also like curling. Basically, like many of my fellow Canadians, I take pride in watching my fellow countrymen and countrywomen show their athletic skills on the ice. Recently, a reality TV show which combines the world of ice hockey and figure staking has become a ratings success here in Canada. I generally am not a fan of reality TV, but this particular show has become one of my favourite (favorite) television shows. I have told my friends in the USA about it and sent some video clips. According to the following article, which was also posted on the Yahoo! Canada site, the show has been popular among Canadians.

Thanksgiving Day here in Canada has come and gone. The dishes are done, hopefully, and the leftovers safely stored in the fridge. Some of us will spend time standing with the refrigerator door open wondering how to “recycle” the leftovers into tasty meals. It definitely is possible. I came across an article written by Martha Li, of the Divine.ca website, and posted on Yahoo! Canada, which outlined some good ideas for making the most of Thanksgiving leftovers. I trust you will find the following information helpful:

Here in Canada, we celebrate Thanksgiving on the second Monday of October. This year, Thanksgiving will fall on 12th October, 2009. Just like in the United States, Canadians will gather with family and friends to give thanks and then enjoy a big Thanksgiving meal. I have friends in the United States who, of course, are used to celebrating their Thanksgiving in November. Growing up in Canada, I like the timing of when Canadian Thanksgiving takes place. It is nice to enjoy such a special meal during the autumn when the pretty colours are still abundant. My American friends tell me they like having their Thanksgiving in November because once Thanksgiving is done, it helps kick the Christmas season in to high gear. To me, it is just a matter of following traditions set forth by family and friends. Unlike the USA, here in Canada the day after Thanksgiving is not a big shopping day. Boxing Day, on December 26th, is a big shopping day here. No matter when you celebrate Thanksgiving, please accept my best wishes for a safe and blessed holiday.