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History and Origin of Canadian Thanksgiving

In Canada Thanksgiving is celebrated on the second Monday in October. Unlike the American tradition of remembering Pilgrims and settling in the New World, Canadians give thanks for a successful harvest. The harvest season falls earlier in Canada compared to the United States due to the simple fact that Canada is further north.

The history of Thanksgiving in Canada goes back to an English explorer, Martin Frobisher, who had been trying to find a northern passage to the Orient. He did not succeed but he did establish a settlement in Northern America. In the year 1578, he held a formal ceremony, in what is now called Newfoundland, to give thanks for surviving the long journey. This is considered the first Canadian Thanksgiving. Other settlers arrived and continued these ceremonies. He was later knighted and had an inlet of the Atlantic Ocean in northern Canada named after him - Frobisher Bay.

At the same time, French settlers, having crossed the ocean and arrived in Canada with explorer Samuel de Champlain, also held huge feasts of thanks. They even formed 'The Order of Good Cheer' and gladly shared their food with their Indian neighbours.

After the Seven Year's War ended in 1763, the citizens of Halifax held a special day of Thanksgiving.

During the American Revolution, Americans who remained loyal to England moved to Canada where they brought the customs and practices of the American Thanksgiving to Canada. There are many similarities between the two Thanksgivings such as the cornucopia and the pumpkin pie.

Eventually in 1879, Parliament declared November 6th a day of Thanksgiving and a national holiday. Over the years many dates were used for Thanksgiving, the most popular was the 3rd Monday in October. After World War I, both Armistice Day and Thanksgiving were celebrated on the Monday of the week in which November 11th occurred. Ten years later, in 1931, the two days became separate holidays and Armistice Day was renamed Remembrance Day.

Finally, on January 31st, 1957, Parliament proclaimed...

"A Day of General Thanksgiving to Almighty God for the bountiful harvest with which Canada has been blessed ... to be observed on the 2nd Monday in October.

Good day.

Have a two-four and some backbacon for me.

Beware of hosers.

Mars23 said:

Beauty eh??

Our Turkey Day rocks so much harder because it hasn't got thing one to do with genocide. Harvest festivals win over mass slaughter any day.

American Thanksgiving is fucked up. I don't know how anyone can celebrate it with a clear conscience.

meow85 said:

Meow!

I want my turkey!

Happy Thanksgiving! Will you have company, luv?



last year we spent thanksgiving all together in the beauty of the rocky mountains and the splendor of a fancy hotel... and this year we are all apart and stuck at home.

Happy Thanksgiving!

What is everyone thankful for this year?

Personally, I am thankful for my recent engagement and wonderful fiance.
Additionally, I am thankful for the privilege of voting and a range of parties to choose from. In the spirit of keeping things non-political, I'll spare the detail of who will benefit from my vote. : )

Haley said:

a voter!!
oh and congratulations on your engagement!





on a side note... my harvest is now officially complete. i just finished digging my potatoes during the first damn snowfall! so i'm very thankful to be back inside my warm house!

emm said:

Wtf?

It's snowing there? It was 20 degrees here today!

JustErin said:

I took pictures just now, just for you! but forgot that my computer is so full I have no space to download. It's crazy. It was forecast but still... for the first snowfall to be a couple inches deep already...

what the hell is this?!
this is an outrage!
you commie canadians celebrating thanksgiving in october. pfft!

FOOD.

Haley said:

I just finished reading Anne Frank's Diary for the first time. I'd tried before but could never bring myself to finish it, knowing what the ending was. I made myself do it this time though. That girl and her family died. The least I can do is finish her book. When I finished it this afternoon, it put me in mind of how much I really have to be thankful for.

I'm thankful I was born in Canada. I have a roof over my head, and enough food for me and my dog. I have the privilege of going to school, and though it's not high-paying, I have a job I can mostly support myself with. I have family and friends who love me. No one is bombing my home, no one is keeping me on rations, no one is coming to take me away in the night, and no one is surveilling my property. I am god damned lucky.
[Edited 10/12/08 22:50pm]

horatio said:

Celebrating harvest beats celebrating slaughter.

claiming thanksgiving as canadaian i believe is an act of terrorism and requires a preemptive strick.

I will be celebrating my first Thanksgiving here in Canada. I have finally arrived in Ottawa, but I am not used to the idea of having Thanksgiving in October.

meow85 said:

Not only do I celebrate with a clear conscience, but I also celebrate with some turkey, mashed potatoes, and several pies.

hokie said:

We have always celebrated The harvest - not the pilgrams an all that fluff
Such blanket statements towards others or other countries always crack me up. Much more a reflection on the person throwing out the blanket ( to me )

The celebration of graditude and a full harvest is so important to me that it is also my wedding anniversary time - so we always add that to our Harvest celebration and give thanks for our blessings as a family

Oh ... and

HAPPY THANKSGIVING CANADA

Mach said:

Almost (if not) all holidays have become something different over the centuries than what they started out to be. It's absolutely important to recognize our terrible history and ensure it is never forgotten, sure. But thanksgiving for me and many americans is just as you said, Mach. A time for gratitude.

CarrieMpls said:

Very true


Most everyone I know celebrates Thanksgiving in
the form of graditude - for family, for health and all the wonderful things life offers us.

The old tradition of what thanksgiving was in the usa is not even a part of most of their personal celebrations

jbchavez said:

wish i could be your personal welcoming committee! how are things so far?


now i really need to upload those pictures of the snow we got out west to scare the bejesus out of you

Tuuuuurkaaaaay

the things i'm thankful for:

a big family that loves me despite who i am - while they may not support me, i know the love is present.

a whole whack of new friends (on and off-line) that i find really appreciate my personality and me, and that i love tons

a boy who i see myself in everytime i look in his eyes. i'm thankful to know this kind of love again (after convincing myself i would never)

my creativity. i'd be so lost without my art.

for getting up day after day, no matter how bad i'm feeling.

a beautiful house both here at home and away in st catharines for school

life.
beautiful, innit?

emm said:

Things are going wll so far. I am working in Ottawaand staying downtown for the moment. On Nov 1, I will move into a house out in Barrhaven.

jbchavez said:

Cool. Enjoy the nice warm weather because it's not going to last!

Welcome to Ottawa. Make sure to take your kids to the Walter Baker Sports Centre (in Barrhaven) to swim this winter. My son and I used to go there all the time before we moved from Greely to the west end of the city.