The second Monday in October means it’s time for Canadians to celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday. The tradition was started in 1879, but wasn’t nailed down until 1957 when the Governor General of Canada issued an official proclamation stating: “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.”
To celebrate this harvest holiday, here are some fun facts about the Canadian Thanksgiving:
Canadians Celebrated First: The tradition started in 1578 in Newfoundland, a mere 43 years before the first American Thanksgiving was celebrated in 1621 at Plymouth Plantation.
Canada’s Thanksgiving is focused on the bountiful harvest and not the Pilgrims. Based on their northern location, the Canadian harvest season comes much earlier, hence the October holiday date.
They’re Just Like Us! Similar to the U.S., Canadians celebrate Thanksgiving day with popular activities like football and holiday parades. The Kitchener-Waterloo Oktoberfest parade is Canada’s only Thanksgiving Day parade and is broadcast nationwide. The Canadian Football League also holds a nationally televised doubleheader known as the “Thanksgiving Day Classic.”
Canadians traditionally celebrate the long weekend with a Thanksgiving feast that often includes food items familiar to American Thanksgiving tables such as turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, and pumpkin pie. However, food traditions vary featuring spicier pumpkin pies and sweet potato recipes, minus the marshmallows.
Here at RFD-TV and RURAL RADIO Channel 147 on SiriusXM Radio, we wish our northern neighbors a truly happy Thanksgiving.
And if you’re interested in learning more about Canada and it’s agriculture heritage, tune in to our new show, “RealAg Radio,” which explores the Canadian and American ag industries, weekdays at 4 PM ET following Ag PhD beginning October 24th on RURAL RADIO Channel 147 on SiriusXM Radio.
Produced by RealAgriculture.com, “RealAg Radio” offers ag enthusiasts everywhere an opportunity to learn about and experience an inside look at North American agriculture. Hosted by ag experts Shaun Haney and Kelvin Heppner of RealAgriculture.com, the new series will feature the latest headlines from around the world of ag and include discussions on current events, markets, agronomy, machinery, farm management, and cover real time issues impacting broadacre farmers, beef and dairy producers, and agriculture in general. Get the full schedule at ruralradio147.com.