We can always find something to be thankful for, no matter what the burden of our wants may be, or the special subject of our petitions… Albert Barnes
At the time of the pandemic, when many students found themselves far away from family on Thanksgiving, we had our peers and faculty to be thankful for, who turned the holiday into a memorable Friendsgiving.
Friendsgiving seems to have evolved in recent years more as a Thanksgiving replacement, when people found themselves away from the family but near friends. However, the pandemic gave it an altogether new form, when it was tough for many to get home during the holidays. Adhering to all the obligations and protocols associated with the pandemic, the StFX community tried to make it a memorable day for everyone.
The McKenna Centre organized a Friendsgiving dinner for the students. It was a smaller fun-filled event than originally planned because of general caution, but there was no dearth of warmth and smiles and welcome at the big family-style dinner, followed by rounds of trivia with prizes.
The event began with an informative chat with Nexos Communitarios, a Peruvian NGO, which was started by a group of citizens and professionals with an aim to reduce poverty in impoverished communities. This was followed by a fabulous feast, and the students sat around tables, connecting over food. Delicious desserts came next… everyone drooled over them. A big thanks to the wonderful staff members who facilitated the event and helped serve the big feast. What came next was even more interesting, a music trivia, with exciting prizes for the winners. Students showed great enthusiasm, and we formed unforgettable memories. A few songs would be stuck in our head after that night…
Elizabeth Yeo and her team organized a fun-filled trip to Keppoch to enjoy the beautiful countryside together. Many students who stayed in Antigonish over the Thanksgiving weekend enjoyed hiking and other activities at Keppoch. Buses provided by the university took students to the outdoor recreation facility, where activities were planned for students.
Many staff members organized family-style dinners for small groups of students and friends to make sure they felt like home. There was no dearth of food and fun and warmth.
International students, who celebrated the day for the first time, learned that in Canada Thanksgiving is celebrated on the second Monday in October—unlike the United States, where is it celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November. Thanksgiving was first observed as an annual event in Canada on 6 November 1879. However, in January 1957 the Canadian Parliament proclaimed the observance of the second Monday in October as Thanksgiving. Traditionally, people thank God for a good harvest and other blessings of the past year.
Well, an added prayer this time… to thank the Almighty God for keeping us safe during the pandemic and for giving us wonderful friends!