Canada
celebrates Thanksgiving every second Monday of October. The celebration, as we
know it today, keeps the essence of being grateful for a bountiful harvest
received. It also mirrors deep faith and gratitude to a supreme being that
protects, blesses, and listens to every citizen's prayers.
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Thanksgiving
dinner in Canada
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The
origins of Thanksgiving have been subject to much debate and argument. The
Americans claim that the tradition began with them; however, Canadians say that
their Thanksgiving celebrations are closely associated with their European
roots. Early Europeans have had a tradition of holding festivals of thanks
after harvest time. This takes place in October. Additionally, the first North
American Thanksgiving celebrations happened in Canada in the year 1578. An
English explorer named Martin Frobisher set foot at Newfoundland and wanted to offer
his gratefulness for his safe passage and arrival into the New World. This
would mean that the initial Thanksgiving in Canada happened 43 years earlier
than the time the American pilgrims first arrived in Plymouth, Massachusetts.
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- A Thanksgiving
Service, attended by Canadian troops, being held in the Cambrai Cathedral (Notre-Dame
de Grâce chapel)
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For
over 200 years, Canadians celebrated Thanksgiving either in late October or
early November. It was declared as a countrywide holiday in 1879, and the
official celebration was set for November 6th of every year.
However, things took a turn for the better on the last day of January in 1957.
The Canadian Parliament changed the date of the annual Thanksgiving
celebrations to the second Monday of October and gave the holiday a more
spiritual tone than just a day of merrymaking. The Parliament dedicated as the
day to give thanks to the Lord for blessing the whole of Canada with abundant
harvest.
One
of the reasons the Thanksgiving celebration was moved was because the
celebrations for the Canadian World War Remembrance Day, usually observed on
November 11 falls on the same week as the Thanksgiving holiday. Canadian
Thanksgiving is a grander celebration, as there are several things they are generally
grateful for – a bountiful harvest, the arrival of explorer Martin Frobisher and
the arrival of the French settlers.
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Shopping for pumpkins at
Thanksgiving in Ottawa's Byward Market
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From
a geographical point of view, another reason why Canadians celebrate Thanksgiving
earlier than their American counterparts is that Canada's harvest season occurs
earlier.
As
Canada is situated further north than the USA, its harvest season arrives a few
weeks earlier. This makes perfect sense for sectors who believe that
Thanksgiving celebrations are about giving thanks for a bountiful harvest for
the year.
Frobisher's Influence
Martin
Frobisher was an English explorer who had been looking for a Northern passage
to the Pacific Ocean. The first Thanksgiving celebration credited to him was
not due to harvest, but due to gratitude for having survived the long and
perilous journey from England to Newfoundland. Frobisher braved rough storms
and the threat of icebergs as he explored uncharted waters. His third and final
voyage to the region was in 1578 and it was at Frobisher Bay in Baffin Island
(known today as Nunavut) where he held the first Thanksgiving ceremony. The
service was officiated by a preacher named Robert Wolfall. This was also one of
the first recorded celebrations where Holy Communion was given out. This
tradition was carried on and observed regularly as more settlers began to live
in the Canadian colonies.
The French Connection
The
French settlers have also been given credit for propagating Thanksgiving. The
settlers arrived in New France in the company of explorer Samuel de Champlain
at the turn of the 17th century. The new settlers were also celebrating
during the end of harvest season. They typically held feasts and shared their
food with the indigenous people who lived in the area. Incidentally, it was
Samuel de Champlain who campaigned for the establishment of the Order of Good
Cheer in 1606. The Order was made up of a small group of Port-Royal's elite and
their mandate was to create a superb gastronomical feast for all the members.
The produce should be sourced through hunting, fishing and harvesting in the
rich Canadian environment.
As
more and more settlers came to live in Canada, Thanksgiving celebrations
especially after a good harvest became more common. This practice blended with
the traditions of the Irish, Germans and Scots.
Commonalities
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Thanksgiving
turkey
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Different
countries and cultures may celebrate Thanksgiving at different times of the
year but they do share some commonalities. For one, no celebration is complete
without roasting a turkey and whipping up a feast of side dishes and desserts
to go with it. Turkeys were originally
called guinea fowls and originated in Madagascar. They started figuring into the celebrations
at the height of the American Revolution. That was the time that the United
Empire Loyalists fled to Canada. Since
then, the proud fowl has been equated with Thanksgiving. This is probably
because a roast turkey is a hearty and generous meal that is best shared with
family and loved ones.
The Language of Gratitude
Thanksgiving
is a day set aside for people to reflect on all the blessings they received for
the year. It could be any number of things – a plentiful harvest, safe passage
or journeys, healing, promotions or financial freedom. Whatever it is that you
and your loved ones are thankful for, what's important is to acknowledge all
that you have received and continue to receive, and be truly thankful for them.
Culturally,
Thanksgiving is a tradition that keeps families close together. From wherever
they might be, family members come back home and be with their families to
celebrate and give thanks. Those who cannot go back home still try to embrace
the essence of the holiday by forming their own circles. They still share
lavish and carefully prepared meals and toast to their successes. They
celebrate life, friendships and their accomplishments.
While
it is true that the celebration of Thanksgiving cuts across race and religious
beliefs, there is a resounding theme to it.
No matter what language they speak or the actual date when they
celebrate Thanksgiving, it is overshadowed by their spirit of gratitude. And
this is why Thanksgiving is and will always be a day to acknowledge that we
cannot do it on our own.
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