Everything Expats Should Know About Thanksgiving in Canada

Recently moved to Canada? Here's everything you should know about celebrating Thanksgiving in your new country.

When
Canadian Thanksgiving is celebrated on the second Monday in October and has been since 1957, when a proclamation was issued stating the holiday is "a Day of General Thanksgiving to Almighty God for the bountiful harvest with which Canada has been blessed." While Thanksgiving was declared a national holiday in 1879, the day of the week and even the month was subject to change.

Where
Thanksgiving is a statutory holiday (regulated by the government) in the majority of Canada, except for the provinces of Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland and Labrador, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia--where it's an optional holiday.

Why
The first Thanksgiving in Canada was led by English explorer Martin Frobisher, who arrived in Newfoundland in 1578 and wanted to give thanks for his safe arrival. Feasts of thanks were also held years later by French settlers, including a feast with the First Nations where food was shared. After the American Revolution, refugees brought other Thanksgiving customs to Canada, including eating turkey and pumpkin.

How
While the holiday takes place on a Monday, Canadian families may gather on any day during the long weekend for their Thanksgiving feast. Traditional foods served include roast turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, cranberry sauce, corn, fall vegetables and other more regional dishes like salmon and wild game. In addition to a feast, parades are also traditional and every year the Canadian Football League has a televised doubleheader called the Thanksgiving Day Classic.

Want to know more about holidays in Canada? Familiarize yourself with our public holidays guide and learn the difference between statutory and optional holidays.