All About The Canadian Thanksgiving Holiday

Like the United States, Canada gives thanks for its good fortune once a year by expanding their waistlines with bells filled with turkey, stuffing, and mashed potatoes to celebrate Thanksgiving.

Unlike the US, Thanksgiving is not a big celebration in Canada. However, it's a popular time for Canadians to gather with family, so more people than usual often travel that weekend.

When is Canadian Thanksgiving?

Although the US and Canada share a continent, the two do not share the same date for Thanksgiving. In Canada, the second Monday in October is a statutory, or public holiday, while American Thanksgiving is celebrated on the fourth Thursday in November.

The Canadian Thanksgiving holiday can officially be observed on the second Monday of October, however, family and friends can usually meet for their Thanksgiving meal on any one of the three. day of the three-day holiday weekend.

A Brief History of Canada's Thanksgiving

The first Government-sanctioned Thanksgiving holiday in Canada took place in November 1879, although as late as 1957, that date was set on the second Monday of each October.

It was first celebrated at the behest of the leaders of the Protestant clergy who usurped the American Thanksgiving holiday, first observed in 1777 and established as a national day. "public thanksgiving and prayer" in 1789. In Canada, the holiday is for the "public and solemn" recognition of God's mercy.

Although Thanksgiving is associated with American celebrations, it is believed that the first Thanksgiving may have occurred in Canada, in 1578, when English explorer Martin Frobisher touched down on the Canadian North Pole after while crossing the Pacific Ocean in search of the Northwest Passage. This event is disputed as the "First Thanksgiving" by some because the thanks given are not for a successful harvest but for surviving a long and perilous journey.

Black Friday in Canada

Traditionally, Canada hasn't had a big shopping day after Thanksgiving the way the United States does. This has changed since about 2008 when stores in Canada began offering massive discounts, especially targeted at Christmas shoppers, the day after American Thanksgiving. Black Friday picked up momentum in Canada because it was noticed that Canadians would be moving south of the border to shop in the US to take advantage of the massive shopping discounts.

While still not a shopping phenomenon in the US, shopping malls in Canada open early and attract more shoppers than usual, even requiring the presence of police and traffic supervisors. traffic and parking.

During the biggest shopping deal day in Canada, it'll be Boxing Day, which happens on December 26. It's the direct equivalent of American Black Friday in terms of actual sales and shopping events.

Read more: Shopping experience on Thanksgiving