Thanksgiving: the act of giving thanks; grateful acknowledgment of benefits or favours.

Thanksgiving came to us from England where it was called the Harvest Festival.

Harvest is from the Anglo-Saxon word hærfest, “Autumn”. It then came to refer to the season for reaping and gathering grain and other grown products.

Harvest Festival used to be celebrated at the beginning of the Harvest season on 1 August although nowadays the festival is held at the end of harvest. Farmers celebrated the end of the harvest with a big meal called a harvest supper.

This is where our tradition of Thanksgiving Dinner comes from.

In Britain people bring in food and the food is often distributed among the poor and senior citizens of the local community.

What better act to give thanks for one’s good fortune, benefits and favours than to share food with those members of the community who are not so favoured or fortunate?

Please, as you gather the items and ingredients for your Harvest Supper, remember the Abbotsford Bank – gathering a few items to share with those in need in our community.

If you cannot publish this letter by me due to the election, please remind your readers in whatever manner you choose to remember those who have less or little to be thankful for.