Thanksgiving Canada is A More Casual AffairĬanadian Thanksgiving also tends to be a bit more laid-back than American Thanksgiving. In most of the country, early October is still warm enough to allow for a Thanksgiving local getaway, hike or day trip.Ĭompare that to the US, where Thanksgiving is just days away from the start of December, that rules out most outdoor activities or celebrations that happen outside the home. This matter of timing gives Canadians a leg up in terms of their celebration options. So American Thanksgiving takes place on the last Thursday in November which, in 2022, lands on November 24. The biggest difference between the two is obvious: Canadian Thanksgiving is over a month earlier than its American counterpart.īecause the United States is further south, their harvest falls later in the year. What Makes Canadian Thanksgiving Different from American Thanksgiving?Ĭanadian Thanksgiving often gets lumped in with American Thanksgiving and while they certainly share some similarities, they’re two distinct holidays for a reason – they’re different from each other! A Matter of Timing Thanksgiving in Canada Date 2022Ĭanadians celebrate Thanksgiving on the second Monday in October – in 2022, that’s October 10. It’s now an official statutory holiday in every Canadian province and territory – except Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia. Thanksgiving became a national holiday in Canada in 1957. When did Thanksgiving become an official holiday in Canada? Today, Thanksgiving in Canada can still often have ties to religion for some people but it’s mostly a day for families to gather, spend time together, and appreciate what they have. In Canada, the originally stated purpose was similar: the “public and solemn” recognition of blessings from God. They repurposed the idea from American Thanksgiving (which has roots as far back as 1777, as a nationwide day of prayer and gratitude). It was organized at the request of Protestant clergy leaders. The first nationwide Canadian Thanksgiving was celebrated in 1859, long before it became an official nationwide holiday. Thanksgiving as a concept was introduced to Nova Scotia in the 1750s. Their celebration would have been vaguely recognizable as Thanksgiving today, considering the menu featured uniquely North American food we’re all used to now: turkey, squash, and pumpkin. Sir Martin Frobisher, English explorer of Canada’s Northeast Coast, and his company were the first Europeans on record to celebrate a Thanksgiving in North America in 1578. The Indigenous people of Canada had traditions of celebrating the fall harvest long before European settlers came to North America. Thanksgiving as we know it is a relatively new holiday. Here’s what you need to know about Thanksgiving Canada 2022 including the history, traditions, and (most importantly), what to plan your food menu around.
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