New Canadians embrace new holidays

For many newcomers to Canada, celebrating holidays like Thanksgiving offers a unique opportunity to experience local traditions.

Mohammad Fuaz Khan
Kicker News

Thanksgiving is not a tradition in her home country Ukraine, so Ana Korzhinska approached it with curiosity.

“I didn’t celebrate Thanksgiving the same way the local people would because we don’t have this holiday in our country,” said Korzhinska, who works at the Association for New Canadians. “But it was a nice opportunity to gather with my friends and family and spend time together. This day doesn’t have the same meaning for me as it does for local people.”

The symbolism, she says, was different for her.

“Thanksgiving, to me, felt more like a gathering opportunity rather than a day of deep cultural significance,” she said.

Moin Imran hails from Bangladesh where Thanksgiving isn’t celebrated. The MUN student approached the holiday with a spirit of discovery.

“As a newcomer, I did celebrate this holiday as a way to learn it as a new experience here in Canada by having turkey with my friends,” he said.

For Imran, participating in the traditional Thanksgiving dinner was a way to immerse himself in Canadian culture. He appreciated the chance to share the meal with friends, understanding that such celebrations help him feel more connected to his new surroundings.

“It’s a great way to bond with others and understand a little more about Canadian traditions,” said Imran.

While newcomers like Korzhinska and Imran may not fully grasp the cultural roots of Canadian holidays, they find ways to make these occasions meaningful in their own right. Often, the emphasis is on building community and relationships rather than strictly adhering to the local customs. In this way, they blend their own backgrounds with their new Canadian experiences.

For many immigrants, such as Imran, holidays like Thanksgiving offer a glimpse into the values that Canadians hold dear, such as family, gratitude, and togetherness. But at the same time, he says they represent an opportunity to create new traditions and meanings for these celebrations.