The varying degree of emphasis placed on Thanksgiving reveals differences in larger issues of public discourse between Canada and America, according to a number of Canadian Harvard professors.

“Thanksgiving is a central part of the civic religion [in America]; a feast of almost political proportions, whereas Canadian Thanksgiving is a more modest family affair,” said European Studies Professor Peter A. Hall.

This view was echoed by many Canadians on campus.

“I sort of envy that people are so involved in politics here,” said Torontonian Yuying Luo ’12. “If you take a look at our politics, I can’t remember the last time we had anything big happen.”

“Back home, my friends and I never talk about politics,” said Alex H. Housser ’12, of Victoria, British Columbia.

But Americans have recently engaged more Canadians in their political conversation, considering the health care debate now raging in Congress.

“It’s assumed that I’m an expert on the topic,” said Professor Szonyi. “That by being Canadian, I have a political position.”

“With respect to policies like health care, Americans could learn a lot from the Canadian experience but they rarely know very much about it,” Professor Hall said.

LOOKING NORTH

The festivities earlier this week did not go unnoticed in the rest of Annenberg.

During dinner, about 30 students gathered behind a Canadian flag displayed over the balcony in Annenberg and sang the national anthem ‘O Canada’ in both English and French.

“Happy Canadian Thanksgiving!” they shouted to the curious patrons cheering below.

Polina Krass ’11, the prime minister of the Canadian Club, said she was really happy to continue the tradition of the Canadian Thanksgiving dinner. “I was really excited about the number of people who showed up,” she said.

As the Canadians chattered over the meal, patrons eating below looked on with an air of amusement and confusion.

Most people interviewed surmised that it was some sort of Canadian event, but only a handful were aware of the occasion or the nature of the holiday.