The very first Thanksgiving celebration in Canada took place in 1578, when Martin Frobisher, an explorer from England arrived in Newfoundland, he wanted to give thanks for his safe arrival to the New World.
Thanksgiving was celebrated either in late October or early November, for many hundred years, until it was declared a National Holiday on November 6th, 1879. On January 31, 1957, the Canadian Parliament announced that it should on the second Monday of October because it coincided in the same week as Remembrance Day which is celebrated on November 11th. It was then declared that Thanksgiving would be “a day of general thanksgiving to almighty God for the bountiful harvest with which Canada has been blessed.”
So why isn’t the Canadian Thanksgiving not celebrated at the same time as in the United States? Geographically speaking, Canada is further north (O’ Canada! The True North strong and free!..sorry had to get that one out!), which means that the harvest season arrives earlier than the United States. Also, since the Canadian tradition is more about giving thanks for the harvest season, opposed to the arrival of pilgrims for the American tradition.
One thing that does not change, no matter where you live in North America… everyone celebrates with parades, with their family and we all get stuffed eating turkey and pumpkin pie!
What did you do this year for Thanksgiving?