Canadian Thanksgiving History & Traditions
Posted: Tue Apr 15, 2008 1:20 amHistory of Canadian Thanksgiving
The first Thanksgiving is believed to have been held in 1578 by English explorer, Martin Frobisher. He had been trying to find a route to the Spice Islands in the Orient. The ceremony was held in what is now the Baffin Islands. He was later knighted and Frobisher Bay was named after him.
On October 10th, 1710, Port Royal, Nova Scotia held a Thanksgiving day to celebrate the return of the town to the English. And again in 1763, Halifax celebrated the end of the Seven Year War with a Thanksgiving ceremony.
Since 1879, Canadian Parliament has chosen many dates for Thanksgiving. After World War I, both Armistice Day (now Remembrance Day) and Thanksgiving were both held on the Monday before November 11th. Thanksgiving became it's own celebration again in 1931. Then on January 31st, 1957, Canadian Parliament declared "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."; thus giving Thanksgiving a more permanent date.
Traditions
At the heart of the celebration is giving thanks; thanks for the harvest, food, family, friends. Canadians also reflect back on their ancestors' pioneering spirit, and the beauty and bountifullness of their land and people.
Food - At this time of thanksgiving people gather their family and friends near to them and have a feast of turkey, cranberry sauce, stuffing, and pie.
Cornucopias - English farm workers had a tradition of filling a curved goat's horn with fruit and grain to give thanks for their harvest having been a good one. This horn was called a Horn of Plenty or a Cornucopia. They brought this tradition with them when they came to Canada.
Decorations - Canadians decorate their homes, churches, and places of business with hay/straw, gourds, pumpkins, corn, cornucopias, and seasonal flowers (mums, marigolds).
The first Thanksgiving is believed to have been held in 1578 by English explorer, Martin Frobisher. He had been trying to find a route to the Spice Islands in the Orient. The ceremony was held in what is now the Baffin Islands. He was later knighted and Frobisher Bay was named after him.
On October 10th, 1710, Port Royal, Nova Scotia held a Thanksgiving day to celebrate the return of the town to the English. And again in 1763, Halifax celebrated the end of the Seven Year War with a Thanksgiving ceremony.
Since 1879, Canadian Parliament has chosen many dates for Thanksgiving. After World War I, both Armistice Day (now Remembrance Day) and Thanksgiving were both held on the Monday before November 11th. Thanksgiving became it's own celebration again in 1931. Then on January 31st, 1957, Canadian Parliament declared "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."; thus giving Thanksgiving a more permanent date.
Traditions
At the heart of the celebration is giving thanks; thanks for the harvest, food, family, friends. Canadians also reflect back on their ancestors' pioneering spirit, and the beauty and bountifullness of their land and people.
Food - At this time of thanksgiving people gather their family and friends near to them and have a feast of turkey, cranberry sauce, stuffing, and pie.
Cornucopias - English farm workers had a tradition of filling a curved goat's horn with fruit and grain to give thanks for their harvest having been a good one. This horn was called a Horn of Plenty or a Cornucopia. They brought this tradition with them when they came to Canada.
Decorations - Canadians decorate their homes, churches, and places of business with hay/straw, gourds, pumpkins, corn, cornucopias, and seasonal flowers (mums, marigolds).
