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Happy Canadian ThanksGiving!!

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Lumière:
To all my fellow Canadians out there ...  From the Yukon to Nova Scotia!


I wish you a Happy Thanksgiving!!

moremojo:
I just learned this weekend from my pal Bill in Nova Scotia that this Monday (today) was Canadian Thanksgiving. From here in the States, let me wish all of our Canadian friends the very best on what I assume to be an official holiday for you guys.

Can you tell me, Milli, something of the origin of Canada's Thanskgiving? I notice it's almost two months earlier than our American version? How did your version get started? And any special Thanksgiving lore peculiar to the Great White North that can be shared for an ignorant Yank like me?

All the best to you,
Scott

Lumière:
Hey Scott,  :)

Here is a brief history of the Canadian Thanksgiving (thanks to twilightbridge.com) ...


History and Origin of Canadian Thanksgiving




In Canada Thanksgiving is celebrated on the second Monday in October. Unlike the American tradition of remembering Pilgrims and settling in the New World, Canadians give thanks for a successful harvest. The harvest season falls earlier in Canada compared to the United States due to the simple fact that Canada is further north.

The history of Thanksgiving in Canada goes back to an English explorer, Martin Frobisher, who had been trying to find a northern passage to the Orient. He did not succeed but he did establish a settlement in Northern America. In the year 1578, he held a formal ceremony, in what is now called Newfoundland, to give thanks for surviving the long journey. This is considered the first Canadian Thanksgiving. Other settlers arrived and continued these ceremonies. He was later knighted and had an inlet of the Atlantic Ocean in northern Canada named after him - Frobisher Bay.

At the same time, French settlers, having crossed the ocean and arrived in Canada with explorer Samuel de Champlain, also held huge feasts of thanks. They even formed 'The Order of Good Cheer' and gladly shared their food with their Indian neighbours.

After the Seven Year's War ended in 1763, the citizens of Halifax held a special day of Thanksgiving.

During the American Revolution, Americans who remained loyal to England moved to Canada where they brought the customs and practices of the American Thanksgiving to Canada. There are many similarities between the two Thanksgivings such as the cornucopia and the pumpkin pie.

Eventually in 1879, Parliament declared November 6th a day of Thanksgiving and a national holiday. Over the years many dates were used for Thanksgiving, the most popular was the 3rd Monday in October. After World War I, both Armistice Day and Thanksgiving were celebrated on the Monday of the week in which November 11th occurred. Ten years later, in 1931, the two days became separate holidays and Armistice Day was renamed Remembrance Day.

Finally, on January 31st, 1957, Parliament proclaimed...

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.   

Pipedream:

Happy Thanksgiving to all our Canadian friends!!! :-*

Sheriff Roland:

--- Quote from: moremojo on October 09, 2006, 01:46:41 pm ---I just learned this weekend from my pal Bill in Nova Scotia that this Monday (today) was Canadian Thanksgiving. From here in the States, let me wish all of our Canadian friends the very best on what I assume to be an official holiday for you guys.

Can you tell me, Milli, something of the origin of Canada's Thanskgiving? I notice it's almost two months earlier than our American version? How did your version get started? And any special Thanksgiving lore peculiar to the Great White North that can be shared for an ignorant Yank like me?

All the best to you,
Scott in Texas

--- End quote ---

Not sure of the origins - guess it has something to do with the loyalist moving to Upper Canada, after the British Subjects lost the American revolution. They brought along their traditions (as any group would [like the trembayans]). The fact that it's celebrated 6 weeks before the American Thanksgiving is undoubtably a result of harvest being done earlier here - longer winters.

Being of french origins myself, it's not a special day for me (like the civic holday in the middle of summer celbrating the first governor general of Ontario, or Queen Victoria Day[not exactly a french tradition either]) - but I'll take the day off like everyone else.

PS - Milly - check out the Welcome Center in "Anything Goes" - I wants me some a that champagne & cherry cake!

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