Summary

• The first Thanksgiving Day in Canada was celebrated in 1859.
• This year’s Thanksgiving Day is October 13th, 2025.
• The Protestant clergy appropriated the holiday of American Thanksgiving, which was already a national day for ‘public thanksgiving and prayer.’
• The origins of Thanksgiving Day in Canada were religious because the clergy wanted it to be a day of ‘public and solemn’ and to recognize the mercies of God.
• The origins of Thanksgiving Day have some European influence from harvest festivals, but over time it turned into a proper North American tradition. 
• Though the Indigenous people of Canada have a history of celebrations on the last harvest of the year, for them, the arrival of Europeans only brought colonization, killings, and subjugation.

Why is Thanksgiving Day Celebrated in Canada?

The first Thanksgiving in Canada was celebrated in 1859. The Protestant clergy appropriated the holiday of American Thanksgiving, which was already a national day for ‘public thanksgiving and prayer.’

In the US, the first Thanksgiving was observed in 1777, and it was declared a national day in 1789.

The origins of Thanksgiving Day in Canada were religious because the clergy wanted it to be a day of ‘public and solemn’ and to recognize the mercies of God.

However, the first national Thanksgiving was observed on 5 April 1872, after Canada became a confederation.

By this time, this holiday had turned into a civic holiday instead of a religious one, as it was observed to celebrate the recovery of the Prince of Wales (later King Edward VII) from an illness.

Some say the first Thanksgiving was celebrated in Canada by the English explorer Martin Frobisher. He celebrated it in 1578 upon his successful journey from England to Newfoundland.

However, according to the Canadian Encyclopedia, this is disputed because it was originally associated only with harvest season.

While the European perspective of Thanksgiving is only about celebrations, the Indigenous people of Canada take it differently.

Though the Indigenous people of Canada also have a history of celebrations on the last harvest of the year, for them, the arrival of Europeans only brought colonization, killings, and subjugation.

So for them this day is not at all about celebrations and happiness. Therefore, it is important to keep the dark history of colonization and the perspective of Indigenous people in mind while celebrating this holiday.

Cultural Significance of Thanksgiving Day in Canada

Thanksgiving Day is an important holiday in Canada and a big cultural event with its dishes and desserts.

But it is celebrated differently all over Canada. For instance, it is called Action de grâce in Quebec, and its historical celebrations are different from other parts of Canada.

Since Quebec has been a predominantly Catholic colony, it has always taken Thanksgiving differently because of its Protestant origins and its links with the British monarchy. 

Different parts of Canada also have different preferences for Thanksgiving-specific food. For example, people in Newfoundland prefer Jiggs’ dinner over turkey.

Similarly, though pumpkin pie is a popular dessert on Thanksgiving, people in British Columbia and Ontario also love Nanaimo bars and butter tarts, respectively.

Thanksgiving is a statutory holiday in most parts of Canada except three provinces, such as Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia. These provinces have a discretionary holiday on Thanksgiving instead of a statutory one.

Thanksgiving is a big holiday in Canada, but it is not celebrated as it is observed in the US, where it is a huge event that draws massive feasts and other cultural activities.

In short, compared to the US, Thanksgiving is a low-key event in Canada.

Why Does Canada Celebrate Thanksgiving Day Before the US?

Americans observe Thanksgiving on the fourth Thursday of November every year, whereas Canadians celebrate Thanksgiving on the second Monday of October. That is about one and a half months before the US. 

The origins of Thanksgiving also have some European influence from harvest festivals. But it turned into a proper North American tradition as European settlers arrived on the continent.

However, there is also some evidence that the Indigenous people in North America used to celebrate the last harvest before the fall.

Since winter comes to Canada before the US, the traditions of Thanksgiving become part of October in Canada because outdoor activities are still possible before the winter.

Conclusion

Canada is a multicultural country, and the traditions of Thanksgiving are also equally popular in immigrant families, though they cook and enjoy the gathering in their own cultural style.

Thanksgiving Day provides an excellent opportunity to meet family and friends and enjoy traditional food associated with it.

Despite all cultural differences, the core idea of Thanksgiving remains the same, and that is what you are thankful about.

The beauty of the Canadian culture is its ability to appreciate cultural differences, learn from the history, and then grow together. Thanksgiving in this context is a good time to learn about the perspective of Indigenous people of Canada so that we can better understand each other and appreciate the multicultural characteristics of this beautiful country.

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