In November, after Canada, Thanksgiving is celebrated in the United States. El Día de los muertos is celebrated in Mexico, Great Britain sets off fireworks for Guy Fawkes Night, Angola celebrates its independence and Thailand lights up its rivers with floating lanterns for the Loy Krathong festival.
Week 1: Travel to the United States: Thanksgiving
Celebrated on the last Thursday in November, Thanksgiving is a very important family holiday in the United States. It brings families together around a big feast including roast turkey, mashed potatoes and pumpkin pie. The origin of this festival dates back to the first settlers and their harvests. Today, it symbolizes gratitude and shared moments.
The traditional Thanksgiving meal includes roast turkey , often stuffed, with mashed potatoes , cranberry gravy , stuffing , and pumpkin pie . Families also prepare fall vegetables like sweet potatoes or green beans.
Week 2: Trip to Mexico : Día de los muertos
On November 2, Mexico honors its deceased with Día de los Muertos, a colorful and joyful celebration. Altars decorated with cempasúchil flowers and candles are set up to celebrate the lives of the deceased. Pan de muerto, a traditional bread, is often shared with family and during festivities.
During this celebration, the pan de muerto is the most emblematic dish. This is a sweet bread often flavored with orange blossom, for which I give you a gluten-free recipe. Other typical dishes include mole (a rich sauce made from chili peppers, chocolate and spices) served with chicken or tamales. The altars are decorated with fruits and sweets like calaveras de azúcar (sugar skulls).
Week 3: Trip to Britain: Guy Fawkes Night
On November 5, the British commemorate the failure of the Gunpowder Plot of 1605 with Guy Fawkes Night. Fireworks light up the sky and bonfires are lit, symbolizing the capture of conspirator Guy Fawkes. It is a festive time, often accompanied by sweets and caramel apples.
On Guy Fawkes Night, simple, comforting foods are shared, like toffee apples and bonfire toffee . Bangers and mash (sausages with mash) and jacket potatoes (baked potatoes with garnishes) are also popular, often enjoyed outdoors around bonfires.
Week 4: Trip to Angola : Independence Day
On November 11, Angola celebrates its independence acquired in 1975 after a long struggle against Portuguese colonization. This day is marked by cultural events, dances and traditional meals, such as funge, a dish made from cassava. It is a day of national pride and collective memory.
The traditional dish for Independence Day in Angola is funge , a kind of polenta prepared with cassava or corn flour, accompanied by muamba de galinha , a chicken stew cooked with palm oil and spices. This dish is often served with vegetables such as cassava leaves.
Week 5: Trip to Thailand: Loy Krathong
Loy Krathong is a festival of lights celebrated in Thailand during the full moon in November. Locals place floating lanterns decorated with flowers on rivers to ask forgiveness from the water goddess. This spiritual festival is also a time to share typical dishes, such as khanom krok, a Thai sweet.
During Loy Krathong, Thai people prepare and share dishes like khanom krok, small pancakes made from rice flour and coconut. There are also desserts like kluay buat chee (banana cooked in coconut milk) and traditional dishes like som tam (green papaya salad) or the pad thai.
