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 illuminates its rivers with floating lanterns for the Loy Krathong festival.
Week 1: Trip to the United States: Thanksgiving
Celebrated on the last Thursday of November, Thanksgiving is a very important family holiday in the United States. It brings families together around a large feast including roast turkey, mashed potatoes, and pumpkin pie. The origins of this holiday date back to the first settlers and their harvests. Today, it symbolizes gratitude and shared moments.
The traditional Thanksgiving meal includes roast turkey , often stuffed, accompanied by mashed potatoes , cranberry sauce , stuffing , and pumpkin pie . Families also prepare fall vegetables such as sweet potatoes or green beans.
Week 2: Trip to Mexico : Day of the Dead
On November 2nd, Mexico honors its dead with Día de los Muertos, a colorful and joyous celebration. Altars decorated with marigold flowers and candles are set up to celebrate the lives of the departed. Pan de muerto, a traditional bread, is often shared with family and during the festivities.
During this festival, the pan de muerto is the most iconic dish. It's a sweet bread often flavored with orange blossom, and I'm sharing a gluten-free recipe for it. Other typical dishes include the mole (a rich sauce made with chilies, chocolate and spices) served with chicken or tamales. The altars are decorated with fruits and sweets such as sugar skulls.
Week 3: Trip to Great Britain: Guy Fawkes Night
On November 5th, 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 the conspirator Guy Fawkes. It is a festive occasion, often accompanied by sweets and toffee apples.
On Guy Fawkes Night, simple and comforting dishes are shared, such as toffee apples and bonfire toffee . Bangers and mash and jacket potatoes are also popular, often enjoyed outdoors around bonfires.
Week 4: Trip to Angola : Independence Day
On November 11th, Angola celebrates its independence, gained in 1975 after a long struggle against Portuguese colonization. This day is marked by cultural events, dances, and traditional meals, such as funge, a cassava-based dish. It is a day of national pride and collective remembrance.
The traditional dish for Independence Day in Angola is funge , a type of polenta made from 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 release floating lanterns decorated with flowers onto the rivers to ask forgiveness from the water goddess. This spiritual festival is also a time for sharing traditional dishes, such as khanom krok, a Thai sweet.
During Loy Krathong, Thais prepare and share dishes such as khanom krok, small pancakes made from rice flour and coconut. You can also find desserts like the kluay buat chee (banana cooked in coconut milk) and traditional dishes such as som tam (green papaya salad) or even the pad thai.
