Comparing cultures, or missing Spanish fiestas

Early October is when Canadians celebrate Thanksgiving and Lucenses, natives of the city of Lugo in Spain celebrate San Froilan. There is really little comparison between the family feast to celebrate the end of harvest in North America and the lavish nine day street festival honouring the Spanish city’s patron saint, but I think it would be fun to think about the possibility. To start the traditional fare at the San Froilan festival is octopus and I can’t even imagine the reaction my family would have if instead of turkey we had a large platter of purple Pulpo at the meal.

Next would be the costumes which at the early part of San Froilan seem to have the theme of traditional Galician dress and by the end of the celebrations they change to medieval attire. I suppose for the traditional costumes one would dress as a pilgrim or farmer and later on you could be a little more creative with the Thanksgiving theme and bring out your vegetable, cornucopia or superhero costumes. (A small aside to mention my little claim to fame is that I actually won a Thanksgiving themed costume contest in High school dressed as ‘Captain Turkey’ a little known thanksgiving super-hero)

Now I think it would help if the Thanksgiving celebrations were moved outdoors, a marching band hired to parade your family down the street and then at the end of the day you might set off a few fireworks. Having gone to all this trouble why not just extend the celebrations over a few days or even a week. I think maybe next year it might be easier to just buy a plane ticket to Spain. Here’s a website with some of the colours of the festivities in Lugo: http://sanfroilan.lugo.es/