Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving History

Thanksgiving in Canada is a national holiday that expresses gratitude for a bountiful harvest, and blessings received throughout the year. This celebration serves as an opportunity for Canadians to come together with their families, friends, and loved ones to reflect on all the good fortune in their lives, and to share their thanks for the various aspects of their lives that they cherish.

Thanksgiving in Canada can be traced back to the voyages of Martin Frobisher in the 16th century. Frobisher and his crew held a small feast as a symbol of gratitude for their safe journey, marking the first recorded observance of Thanksgiving in Canadian history. Over time, Thanksgiving celebrations in the country have evolved, with lasting traditions like feasting on turkey and other seasonal delights remaining a vital aspect of the holiday for many Canadians.

The observance of Canadian Thanksgiving typically includes preparing and enjoying a festive meal featuring an assortment of seasonal dishes and ingredients. These meals often consist of foods commonly associated with autumn, such as turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy, cranberries, and pumpkin pie. Additionally, spending time with loved ones and partaking in activities, such as watching football games or giving back to the community through charitable acts, are significant ways that the holiday is celebrated. Canadian Thanksgiving is typically observed on the second Monday of October each year, providing Canadians with an opportunity to pay homage to their good fortune and partake in this time-honored tradition.

Top facts & quotes about Thanksgiving

• Thanksgiving is not an official statutory holiday in the Maritime provinces of Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia.
• 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. - Parliament Proclamation (January 31, 1957)
• The first Canadian Thanksgiving was celebrated in 1578, more than 40 years before the Pilgrims landed in Plymouth, Massachusetts for the American Thanksgiving.
• According to the Turkey Farmers of Canada, in 2022, 2.1 million turkeys were purchased and over 6.4 million turkeys were consumed.
  According to the Turkey Farmers of Canada, 2.5 million turkeys were purchased by Canadians for Thanksgiving in 2020, accounting for 36% of all turkeys sold in the year.
• Unlike the United States, Canada does not celebrate a Black Friday shopping equivalent the day after Thanksgiving.
• Give thanks for each new morning with its light, for rest and shelter of the night, for health and food, for love and friends, for everything thy goodness sends. - Ralph Waldo Emerson

In the News and Trending in Canada for Thanksgiving

Top things to do for Thanksgiving in Canada

• Watch the Canadian Football League Thanksgiving Day Classic football matches held in Montreal over the long weekend.
• Use the long weekend to start decorating your home for Halloween.
• Celebrate Canadian Thanksgiving by making Nanaimo Bars at home. This no-bake dessert is a Canadian specialty, layered with a crumb-based crust, custard flavoured butter icing and a layer of chocolate on top.
• Enjoy the last unofficial weekend of cottage season before the lakes and rivers begin to freeze.
• Prepare a Canadian maple syrup dish. Popular dishes are maple ham and sweet baked beans with maple syrup.
• Reflect on what you are thankful for this year. Prepare a small toast or speech for an evening dinner in order to thank your loved ones.