Good morning, my friends, and Happy Thanksgiving to all of you here in Canada.  I know many of you celebrated yesterday and did the big meal on Sunday night.  That’s smart. You have all day Monday to rest before getting back to work on Tuesday.  I chose not to do a dinner at my house last night because, well, frankly, nobody in my immediate family was going to be home and I didn’t want to be reminded that my brother and sisters don’t live in Vancouver anymore and probably never will again.   Gavin had tickets to the Canucks game and took our daughter Samantha (they won in overtime after a shoot out!) so my son and I shared a simple meal together, I watched Amazing Race and then cleaned a bunch of my paint brushes.   Not a bad night, actually.

Tonight we’re all going over to my beautiful sister-in-law’s place for a big Yee family Thanksgiving party.  My husband’s family knows how to do dinner celebrations the right way!  Everyone participates by bringing special dishes and favourite treats, and lately there’s even been an over abundance of great wines to share with the gang.  Gavin’s dad always makes the turkey and the rest is left up to everyone else.  I’ve committed to bringing a vegetable dish.  Many years ago I introduced my Chinese in-laws to yam dishes that were a huge hit.  Now many of my sisters do better ones than me.  Same goes for the Brussels sprouts.  I need a new vegetable to wow them with.  I’m thinking beets.  I think we all have a friendly competitive thing going on where we all try to outdo last year’s meal and impress with our culinary manoeuvrings.

My kids also want me to bring mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce and stuffing ~ all the sides that aren’t traditionally found at a Chinese Thanksgiving turkey extravaganza.   Honestly, I’ve become quite fond of chow mein and sticky rice and stir-fried bok choy with shitake mushrooms as accompaniments but the great thing about a buffet is that no matter what you put on the sideboard, it all goes together wonderfully.  ‘English’ and Chinese flavours blend in perfect harmony.  You wouldn’t think it’s true but it is.   (I may even pop out and pick up some Indian samosas for an appetizer)

Something else I’ll bring this year is a ‘grace’ to say at the beginning of the meal.  I had to go online to find one I thought was fitting so here are a few of my choices.

This first one is a translation of a Buddhist equivalent to saying grace and it’s called the ‘5 Reflections’ or ‘5 Remembrances’.

First, let us reflect on our own work and the effort of those who brought us this food.
Second, let us be aware of the quality of our deeds as we receive this meal.
Third, what is most essential is the practice of mindfulness, which helps us to transcend greed, anger and delusion.
Fourth, we appreciate this food which sustains the good health of our body and mind.
Fifth, in order to continue our practice for all beings we accept this offering.

Typical Christian grace prayers

• Ecumenical. God is great, God is good. Let us thank Him for our food. Amen.
• Protestant. Come, Lord Jesus, be our guest, and let these gifts to us be blessed. Amen.
• Catholic. Let us pray! Bless us, O Lord, and these, Thy/Your gifts, which we are about to receive from Thy/Your bounty. Through Christ, our Lord. Amen.
• Catholic (Latin). Nos oremus! Benedic, Domine, nos et hæc Tua dona, quæ de Tua largitate sumus sumpturi. Per Christum, Dominum nostrum. Amen.
• Catholic (German). Lass’t uns beten! Segne uns, o Herr, und diese deine Gaben, die wir von deiner Güte nun empfangen werden. Durch Christus/Christum, unseren Herr’n. Amen.
• Anglican. Bless, O Father, thy gifts to our use and us to thy service; for Christ’s sake. Amen.
• Eastern Orthodox. O Christ God, bless the food and drink of Thy servants, for holy art Thou, always, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
• Scots (The Selkirk Grace). Some hae meat and canna eat, And some wad eat that want it; But we hae meat, and we can eat, Sae let the Lord be thankit.
• Australian (any denomination). Come Lord Jesus, be our Guest, let this food of ours be blessed. Amen.
• Common in UK religious schools. For what we are about to receive, may the Lord make us truly thankful. Amen.

Many Christian households ad lib grace at every meal, and it’s common for events from the day to be mentioned in the prayer.  No matter what you chose to do or say it’s important to take a moment to reflect and give thanks and acknowledge all you have been given.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving Monday everyone.  Thanks for dropping by Tara Cronica!  We love you!