Thanksgiving Up North
by: Lynn Beavin
I'd always believed Thanksgiving to be a holiday only celebrated in the United States, honoring something or other involving pilgrims. However, I recently discovered that Canada celebrates a Thanksgiving, as well. Here are some interesting facts about the sister Thanksgiving that occurs north of the border every autumn, unbeknownst to us:
1. Martin Frobisher, an English explorer, is credited as holding what is considered to be Canada's first thanksgiving in 1578. Frobisher had been attempting to find a northern passage to Asia, and though he was unsuccessful in that venture, the explorer did create a settlement in modern Newfoundland. He held Canada's first Thanksgiving to celebrate surviving his adventures.
2. While Americans celebrate Thanksgiving to remember our Pilgrim legacy, Canadians celebrate to commemorate a successful harvest season.
3. As Canada is located farther north than the United States, its harvest season occurs sooner, so Canadians observe Thanksgiving on the second Monday of October versus the fourth Thursday of November.
4. Though the date of the celebration has fluctuated throughout its history, this October date was made official by Parliament in 1957.
5. The tradition of celebrating a successful harvest is ancient and universal and in this case, as in the case of the Thanksgiving of the United States, brought to the "New World" by European settlers.
6. Canadians, too, revere the cornucopia and the pumpkin pie on Thanksgiving.
So, now you know: If ever you travel to Canada on the second Monday of October, it is only proper to wish everyone you see a "Happy Thansgiving!"
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