Thanksgiving 2024

By Matthew Clark

The tradition of Thanksgiving in Canada initially started with native peoples holding ceremonies and festivals to celebrate harvests' end. Later on European explorers held Thanksgiving dinners out of gratitude for their safe arrival to the new world. In the 1860's refugees from the United States civil war brought their celebration of thanksgiving in Canada. Starting in 1879 Thanksgiving day was held every year, yet the date varied while each year had a special theme. At the end of WWI it was decided to hold Armistice Day and Rememberence Day simultaneously on the Monday closest to November 11. This custom lasted until 1930. In 1931 Thanksgiving was moved to a Monday in October. Finally in 1957 the Parliament of Canada proclaimed the 2nd Monday of October to be the official day of Thanksgiving throughout Canada,

There are four distinctions between Canadian and American Thanksgivings. In Canada Thanksgiving is the 2nd Monday in October. In the U.S. it is the last Thursday in November. Canada's first European Thanksgiving was in 1578 when Martin Frobisher held a special meal to thank God for keeping him safe. The American initial Thanksgiving was held during the 1600's with a meal between Europeans and Native people.

In Canada Thanksgiving is more low key than America. One similarity is football. Both the CFL and NFL hold games on their nations Thanksgiving Day. Finally there is no huge post Thanksgiving shopping craze in Canada. Yet! In the U.S. there is Black Friday, a national day of shopping.

To everyone in Canada on Monday, October 14, 2024, HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!

References:

1) almanac.com/content/ways-canadian-thanksgiving-differs-american-thanksgiving

4 ways anadian Thanksgiving Differs from U.S.A.'s Thanksgiving

2)timeanddate.com/holidays/canada/thanksgiving-day