Though I am no longer officially in France, I thought now would be the perfect time to give thanks. For the first time in years, I am in Canada for my favourite holiday: Thanksgiving.

What’s not to love about a holiday that is basically a festival of food? It’s a celebration of the harvest bounty. There is no fat guy absurdly stuffing himself through a chimney with a sack of goodies. No pressure to buy useless gifts for people that neither need nor want them. No songs or forced festiveness. It’s just about food, eating, sharing and giving thanks. What could be better?