Canadian Thanksgiving: Cozy Family meals, Football & Loads of Gratitude

Canadian Thanksgiving differs from the more well-known US version.

What really matters, though, is to take time to be Grateful.

Thanksgiving is a wonderful time of year for families and friends to come together and give thanks for all they have. A cozy family meal is a great way to start the festivities, with a large spread of delicious food to share. Everyone gathers around the table, full of laughter and conversation, while catching up with each other.

After eating, it’s time for some good old-fashioned football. Whether it’s a pickup game in the yard or a full-on tailgating experience, football is often part of Thanksgiving day. As the day comes to an end, everyone is filled with loads of gratitude.

Gratitude for the food, the family, the friends, the memories made, and the love shared. Thanksgiving is the perfect time to show appreciation for all that life has to offer, and to enjoy it with the people who matter most.

Let’s now explore what people typically do on Canadian Thanksgiving, as well as how it differs from the U.S. Thanksgiving celebration.

History Of Canadian Thanksgiving

Since 1957, Canadians have been celebrating Thanksgiving on the second Monday of October as a way to give thanks for the blessings of the past year, particularly a good harvest.

Long before Canada celebrated Thanksgiving, native people of America had festivals and ceremonies to celebrate the completion and bounty of the harvest. Early European settlers and explorers held thanksgivings to give thanks for some special fortune, such as Martin Frobisher's ceremony that occurred in 1578 after he survived a journey to find a passage to Asia from Europe. Later in the 18th century, thanksgivings occurred after noteworthy events.The theme of the celebration changed each year, with "Blessings of an abundant harvest" being the most common theme. Other themes included King Edward VII's coronation and Queen Victoria's diamond and golden jubilees. From the end of World War I until 1930, both Thanksgiving and Armistice Day were celebrated on the Monday closest to the 11th of November. Armistice Day was renamed Remembrance Day in 1931 and Thanksgiving was moved to a Monday in October. Since 1957, Thanksgiving Day has always been held on the Second Monday of October.

Symbols Of Canadian Thanksgiving

Canadian Thanksgiving is associated with the European tradition of harvest festivals and is symbolized by a horn of plenty (cornucopia) filled with seasonal vegetables and fruit. Additionally, ears of corn, pumpkins, turkeys, and large displays of food are also used to represent the holiday.

How to celebrate Canadian Thanksgiving

In Canada, Thanksgiving is a national holiday. All post offices, schools, businesses, and stores are closed. Public transportation usually operates on a reduced schedule, with some services not running at all.

On Canadian Thanksgiving, many people will have the day off work and enjoy a three-day weekend. This is typically spent with family and friends, often in a shared meal of roast turkey and seasonal produce, such as pecan nuts, corn ears, and pumpkin, as well as honey maple roasted carrots, rosemary and garlic mashed cauliflower, maple roasted brussel sprouts with bacon peacans and cranberries, honey roasted butternut squash, sweet potatos, all served with delicious gravy.

A lot of people also decide to take a short fall vacation during this period, as this might be the last chance in a while for many to use their holiday homes or cottages before the winter season sets in.

Other popular activities at Thanksgiving include outdoor breaks so that the spectacular colors of the autumn in Canada can be admired, fishing, and hiking to enjoy the wonderful outdoors. Additionally, if you are a fan of the Canadian Football League, you may decide to spend the three-day break watching the Thanksgiving Day Classic matches.

Above all, Canadian Thanksgiving is a day of thanks, so it is important to take the opportunity to reflect and thank those who have played an important role in your life or done something special for you.

Thanksgiving is a great chance to express appreciation for the positive aspects of your life, it teaches us to take time to recognize and savor the moments that bring us joy, and be thankful for the blessings that we have.

Differences Between U.S. And Canadian Thanksgiving

You may have noticed that Thanksgiving is celebrated differently in the United States and Canada. In the U.S., Black Friday is typically associated with Thanksgiving, while in Canada, the equivalent is Boxing Day which takes place two months later. Additionally, parades and football games are less prominent in Canada, but there are still football marathons that families can watch.

Moreover, the U.S. celebrates Thanksgiving in November rather than October like Canada. This is because in Canada, Thanksgiving is more about thanks for the harvest season, and since Canada is further north, the harvest season occurs before it does in the U.S.

Now that you know more about Canadian Thanksgiving, let's take a moment to pause and reflect on all that we are grateful for.

Let's take the time to recognize the people, places, and things that bring us joy and happiness. Let's come together to share our gratitude and appreciation, and to lend a helping hand to those in need.

Let's practice compassion and understanding, and let's be mindful of the blessings that we have, possibly also throughout the rest of the year.

Let's embrace this season of Thanksgiving with an open heart and a spirit of gratitude.

Your Strategic English Coach,

Tania

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