Blog Gobbling . . . or Why Canada Celebrates Thanksgiving in October

Some curious facts about Canadian Thanksgiving, which occurs a few weeks before that of our American friends . . .

The first North-American Thanksgiving celebration took place in Canada (Newfoundland, to be precise).  It was 1578 when English explorer Martin Frobisher decided to give thanks for safe arrival in the New World.  (This, by the by, was 43 years before those quaint pilgrims landed in Plymouth, Mass.)

Thanksgiving wasn’t celebrated every year, just on special occasions—such as the jubilees of Queen Victoria and in April 1872, when the country gave thanks to celebrate King Edward VII’s return to good health from a grave illness.

In fact, Thanksgiving once served as a holiday honoring Canada’s monarchy (those UK crown-heavy folks I assume).

In 1901 and 1904, Thanksgiving above the 49th Parallel was held on a Thursday in November.  And from 1922 to 1930, it was celebrated on November 11th, now known as Remembrance Day.

Thanksgiving was pronounced a national holiday in 1879: November 6th to be precise.  It was only in 1957, that Parliament declared it would officially take place the second Monday in October (although this has apparently been the case since 1931). 

Another reason for the earlier Thanksgiving is that Canada has a shorter harvesting season due to its northern location.  As Canadians like to give gratitude for bountiful crops, October seemed the right time to do so.

One last interesting fact: Thanksgiving is only a statutory holiday in a few provinces.  In the east—specifically PEI, Newfoundland and Labrador, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia—it’s an optional holiday.  (Who knew?)

Ya truly learn something new every day.   

Have a gobblin' good Thanksgiving, eh?