Happy Thanksgiving! (In October!)

Having international friends thrills me constantly, in often surprising ways. (The surprise is part of the joy, because I never know what I don't know.)

Tomorrow is, apparently, Thanksgiving in Canada. As an oblivious American, I had no idea. I couldn't imagine that anyone outside of America even cared about the pilgrims and the Indians, but then, that's the kindergarten version of the holiday, all Plymouth Rock and no wider view.

Thanksgiving in Canada is officially marked on the second Monday in October, in celebration of the harvest. A Winnipeg columnist writes: "According to the Canadian Encyclopedia, the explorer and pirate Martin Frobisher held the first Thanksgiving on Baffin Island in 1578 to give thanks for the safe arrival of his crew after a voyage of discovery. That's 43 years before the famous and better-known Pilgrim celebration in Massachusetts in 1621, the one with the roast turkey, potatoes and pumpkin pie."

The celebratory staples are the same, from what I understand: the requisite turkey, pie, mashed potatoes, etc. It makes me hungry just to think of it.

Lucky for me, my friend Julie, a Darden student from Canada, baked up two pies in honor of the holiday: a cherry and a raspberry. I can attest to their goodness.

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!