Happy 4th of July

Canada and the US share many things, like Niagara Falls, the Great Lakes and the inability to understand what the French see in Jerry Lewis.

Apple pie is another commonality. Yet, despite its place alongside motherhood and baseball, this particular dessert has never symbolized America to me. After all, we grow apples right here in Guelph. But cranberries? Sure, we Canucks serve it alongside our Thanksgiving turkey — in October — but in my mind these tart little berries are as American as fireworks on the fourth of July.

This correlation arose years ago when my best friend and I vacationed in Cape Cod one fall. En route to the beach we stumbled upon a local Cranberry Festival. The whole town, whose name escapes me, turned out for the parade then enjoyed every sort of dish imaginable, all based upon the berry of honour. This was the first and only time I’ve seen cranberry fudge.

And when the sun went down, these two small-town-Ontario girls were treated to the fireworks display of our lives. All this for cranberries.

While scholars insist the Star-Spangled Banner’s red represents hardiness and valor, to me it will always mean cranberries.

Happy Independence Day to my American friends. May you enjoy fireworks and an extra big slice of whatever dessert strikes your fancy.

Cranberry photo © cobalt published under a Creative Commons License.