Fall Suppers a Saskatchewan tradition page 2

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surrounding communities.

The tradition of these community meals seems to relate to thanks giving which is a very deeply felt time of the year in this agricultural world. As a child I remember the suppers were in fact "fowl" suppers as this was the time of the year for the slaughtering of the farm poultry so the supper would include duck, geese, chicken and turkey, I clearly recall suppers that included migratory fowl as well, such as wild duck and geese. But now the tradition is pretty much a turkey dinner and in Tisdale this meal also includes cabbage rolls.

However, the main event of a fall supper is not the main course, but it is dessert, where large tables are covered with wedges of pies of all kinds. With dessert and coffee it is time to visit and enjoy the company of the people of the community. Above is a proud grandmother and her beautiful grand daughter for these are family events with children of all ages as people from all parts of the society sharing the meal together and perhaps that bonding forges the cohesive nature of prairie life.

The common potluck supper is also an ingrained part of community life. In the little village in which I grew up it was not uncommon to arrive at home for lunch or supper and discover a note on the door advising the family members to go to the town hall for a common meal similarly, many meetings and community groups accompany their meetings with potluck suppers. The sharing of food and one self with neighbours seems to bring people closer together and foster the traditions of collective and shared goals.

surrounding communities. The tradition of these community meals seems to relate to thanks giving which is a very deeply felt time of the year in this agricultural world. As a child I remember the suppers were in fact "fowl" suppers as this was the time of the year for the slaughtering of the farm poultry so the supper would include duck, geese, chicken and turkey, I clearly recall suppers that included migratory fowl as well, such as wild duck and geese. But now the tradition is pretty much a turkey dinner and in Tisdale this meal also includes cabbage rolls.

However, the main event of a fall supper is not the main course, but it is dessert, where large tables are covered with wedges of pies of all kinds. With dessert and coffee it is time to visit and enjoy the company of the people of the community. Above is a proud grandmother and her beautiful grand daughter for these are family events with children of all ages as people from all parts of the society sharing the meal together and perhaps that bonding forges the cohesive nature of prairie life. The common potluck supper is also an ingrained part of community life. In the little village in which I grew up it was not uncommon to arrive at home for lunch or supper and discover a note on the door advising the family members to go to the town hall for a common meal similarly, many meetings and community groups accompany their meetings with potluck suppers. The sharing of food and one self with neighbours seems to bring people closer together and foster the traditions of collective and shared goals.