Club House Canadian Thanksgiving
The typical Canadian Thanksgiving table is evolving as new Canadians, or Canadians who have been in Canada for 12 years or less, weave their cultural backgrounds into the tastes of the holiday. This is shown in findings from a recent survey by Club House, the 137-year-old spice brand that adds flavour to every moment that matters.
In partnership with “Superfan” Nav Bhatia, a well-known Canadian entrepreneur and Indian immigrant, Club House set out to learn if new Canadians, the majority of whom are of Chinese, South Asian, or Filipino descent, celebrate Thanksgiving, and if so, what dishes they prepare. The results dispel assumptions about typical Thanksgiving meals and challenge the notion that the holiday has one taste across the country.
While almost all new Canadians (81 per cent) celebrate Canadian Thanksgiving, nearly half (41 per cent) blend typical Canadian Thanksgiving dishes with dishes from their cultural heritage. A third are celebrating Thanksgiving entirely with traditional food from their heritage (29 per cent), while a fifth (22 per cent) of new Canadians cook entirely typical Canadian Thanksgiving meals. Findings show that top dishes from a person’s cultural heritage include roasted chicken, fried rice, and pancit (a Filipino noodle dish), and show top typically Canadian dishes include turkey, stuffing, and potatoes.
More than a quarter (27 per cent) of new Canadians say tradition is the primary reason they cook beloved dishes for Thanksgiving, seconded by the taste and flavour of the dish (20 per cent).
The longer new Canadians have been in Canada, the more likely they are to celebrate Thanksgiving - and the longer here, the more likely they are to host their own celebration, rather than attending a celebration elsewhere (41 per cent vs 29 per cent).
Half (51 per cent) of new Canadians will incorporate turkey into their celebratory Thanksgiving meals, as some prefer other proteins or because they are vegetarian.
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