What comes to your mind when you think of Canada? Is it maple syrup, ice hockey, or national parks? Well, most people think it’s only about them, but honestly Canada is so much more than that. Being the second-largest country in the world, Canada is home to some well-known and serene beauty of nature. Lush forests and national parks thrive, their charm equals their significance. Bustling cities and towns narrate tales of enduring existence. It is full of incredible wonders and famed for a lot of things. Over a million people from across the world travel to Canada to witness this wonderful country’s uniqueness.
Canada festivals and events are an inevitable part of the country’s customs and traditions, where people come together and celebrate with the utmost happiness and excitement. Yet, there is one celebration that is anticipated throughout the year: the Canadian Thanksgiving Celebration. It is one of the calendar’s most cherished celebrations and is the perfect time for spending Winter Vacation in Canada. After all, it is a holiday dedicated to practicing gratitude and gathering with your entire family. So, this article covers everything you need to know about Canadian Thanksgiving, its significance, and its traditions.
Canadian Thanksgiving
Canadian Thanksgiving is not only a Canada public holiday but also an an annual celebration. It is celebrated on the second Monday of October and is solely meant to honor life’s blessings and practice gratitude while spending quality time with close family and friends. Although the origin of this celebration is based on religion, it has recently gained popularity. It has become a reason to enjoy a delicious meal with friends and family and express gratitude for life.
The origin of Canadian Thanksgiving is unique, and this separates it from the American celebrations predating the United States Thanksgiving. Canada created the holiday to express their thankfulness for the safe voyages of explorers in the New World. But this eventually evolved into a religious celebration and a holiday to thank God for the bounty of the Fall Harvest.
Origins of the Canadian Thanksgiving
The first-ever Canadian Thanksgiving was reportedly celebrated by the English explorer Martin Frobisher in 1578. During that time, Martin and his expedition team attempted to explore the Northwest Passage safely. This tells us that their celebration was held for their safe arrival in the New World, and the first celebratory meals consisted of a simple yet delicious assortment of salted beef and mushy peas.
Thus, the first few Thanksgiving holidays were celebrated to thank God for the explorer’s safe arrival and travel to the New World. This further evolved to express and thank God for a bountiful Fall Harvest.
However, in April 1872, there was no Thanksgiving celebration. This was because the holiday was reinstated to celebrate the recovery of the Prince of Wales from a major illness.
Canadian Thanksgiving has not had a proper set date for a few years. When is Canadian Thanksgiving? It always appeared as a question, with the celebration date moving around the calendar from mid-April to November before the Canadian government ultimately designated the second Monday of October as the official day. In 1957, the Canadian Parliament officially proclaimed the holiday, declaring it as “A Day of General Thanksgiving to Almighty God for the bountiful harvest with which Canada has been blessed.” The proclamation specified that the holiday should be observed on the 2nd Monday in October.
For a fun fact, the current Canadian Thanksgiving coincidentally coincides with Columbus Day and Indigenous People’s Day in the United States.
Canadian Thanksgiving Traditions
Unlike its American counterpart, the Canadian Thanksgiving is more subdued. While Monday marks the holiday, most employers are not obliged to grant a day off. Typically, families and friends gather on Sunday to celebrate, as Canadian Thanksgiving isn’t widely observed across the country. It is not a common celebration in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, or Prince Edward Island.
Now, when it comes to the Canadian food for Thanksgiving, they usually vary by province. The celebratory dinner usually includes autumnal-themed delicacies such as yams, gravy, mashed potatoes, corn, and squash (Canadian bacon is usually complemented with at least a few of those side dishes). If you are new to Canada, you are can create your own meal and tradition.
In Newfoundland, families typically enjoy a Jigg’s Dinner. Jigg’s Dinner is a boiled meat dish complemented by a split pea pudding, similar to the original Thanksgiving meal shared by the explorers.
While in Ontario, families enjoy savoring sweet butter tarts or syrup-filled pastry shells that are absolutely delicious. In most parts of the country, Canadians typically finish their Thanksgiving meal with a spicy pumpkin pie topped with ginger, cinnamon, and cloves for dessert rather than an actual sweet dish.
However, there are other common dessert options, including the most iconic flavor of the country, maple-walnut layer cake, maple butter tart, no-bake chocolate ganache treat with a wafer, and much more.
Canadians also love to enjoy playing football and sports on Thanksgiving, which is similar to American Thanksgiving. Even the Canadian Football League televises its own football doubleheader, popularly known as the Thanksgiving Day Classic.
There are also Thanksgiving Day parades, events, and festivities for families to enjoy and celebrate. With over 120 floats, the most famed and biggest is the Kitchener-Waterloo Oktoberfest Thanksgiving Day Parade, which is aired on Thanksgiving Day.
Thanksgiving Celebration with the Overseas Family
Celebrate Thanksgiving primarily with family and friends. If your family resides at a distance, find a way to express gratitude for the most important blessings in your life. It is all about the bonding and togetherness we share with our loved ones.
You can video chat with them and talk about Canadian Thanksgiving. You can also message your family members you haven’t connected in a while and tell them you miss them. Or, you can even write letters and tell them how you feel and how important they are in your life. Along with the money you periodically send to your home (as a means of support), you can send some extra money as a gift, or enjoy a celebratory dinner on your behalf.
During this time you can also try exciting places to visit during winter with family. Banff and Lake Louise offer stunning winter scenery with skiing, snowshoeing and skating options. Whistler is a world-renowned ski resort with over 200 trails. Quebec City hosts a massive winter carnival with parades and sculptures. Churchill provides incredible wildlife viewing of polar bears, foxes and the northern lights. You can embrace Canadian winters through outdoor activities or cultural events.
Canadian Thanksgiving is a much more relaxed affair than all the bustling celebrations. Even the table decorations are quite low-key. Some families may even skip the feast entirely; instead, they prefer to take a hike beneath the beautiful fall foliage and enjoy the last charm of the mild weather before the winter arrives.
So, this was everything about Canadian Thanksgiving, including the origin and traditions. A celebration usually welcomes our loved ones to be together and spend quality time with them. This not only captures a memorable day but also strengthens the bonding of our family and friends who stand with us through thick and thin. After all, it is the family that matters. So, enjoy your Canadian Thanksgiving with your own traditions, visit the best places to in Canada and meals while sharing happiness with your loved ones. Happy Thanksgiving!
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