Thanksgiving in Canada: what are we really celebrating?

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Have you ever wondered what Thanksgiving is actually about in Canada? I’ve found myself asking that a lot. Is it more than just a big family dinner or a long weekend? Let’s dig into it a bit and see…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This year actually, was my second time celebrating Thanksgiving here, so I decided to do some research and share what I found. Spoiler alert: it’s way more complicated than just a meal, and for some people, it holds different and sometimes even uncomfortable… meanings. 😬

While many people gather around tables full of food, others ask: what exactly are we giving thanks for? Honestly, I was one of those people this year. LOL.

During my research, I learned that even some Canadians, especially certain Indigenous communities and parts of Quebec, either don’t celebrate it at all or do so in their own way. But let’s not get too bogged down in the intro. Here’s what you came for…

 

 

 

 

Thanksgiving in Canada has some pretty unique roots compared to other countries. And, to be real, despite what a lot of people think (that it all started in the U.S. and Canada just followed), Canada actually celebrated Thanksgiving first. The very first Thanksgiving in North America happened in 1578 when Sir Martin Frobisher and his crew, after surviving a rough journey through the Arctic, held a ceremony in Newfoundland to give thanks for their safety and blessings.

Fast forward to 1879, Thanksgiving officially became a national holiday in Canada, but it was celebrated on different dates for a while.

Then, in 1957, they decided to stick with the second Monday of October to align with the end of the harvest season, since it wraps up earlier here because of the cooler climate.

https://twitter.com/CraigBaird/status/1845504664227229962

So yeah, Thanksgiving in Canada is about gratitude, for a lot of people, it’s a time to reflect on their achievements, recognize the challenges they’ve overcome, and appreciate their lives and relationships. In places like Vancouver, where nature is a huge part of the culture, I saw on Instagram many people use the long weekend to get outside, go hiking, or spend time with family in the great outdoors.

For me, celebrating Thanksgiving in Vancouver for the second time felt really special and super different from what I’m used to back home in Brazil. Thanksgiving isn’t a thing in Brazil, so it’s been cool to dive into a tradition.

This year, my wife and I wanted to do something unique, so we spent the day cooking together. We decided to add some Brazilian flavors, like salpicão, farofa, and seafood… Dishes that remind us of home. It was really fun!

Later on, we had some dinner with some friends and each of us shared what we were grateful for, which got me thinking about all the good things that have happened this year, even with the daily challenges we all face.

Now, while Thanksgiving is popular across most of Canada, not everyone celebrates it the same way… Or at all. Take Quebec, for example. Many people there don’t really view it as a big deal. They’ve got their own cultural traditions, like Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day, which carries way more emotional and symbolic weight. Because of this, Thanksgiving might pass by with little fanfare or even be skipped entirely by some.

Here’s something that might surprise you, though. When you compare it to the U.S., Canadian Thanksgiving feels a bit different. In the U.S., the Thanksgiving story from 1621, when the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag shared a meal… Is often seen as a symbol of unity. But the reality is that this narrative hides layers of violence and oppression that followed. Colonists took Indigenous land, fought wars, and enacted cultural genocide, which devastated Native communities.

Even though Canadian Thanksgiving doesn’t carry the same dark history tied to Plymouth, the colonization of Canada also has a legacy of injustice and oppression toward Indigenous people.

So for some, Thanksgiving here can also be a time to reflect on the impacts of colonization and what that means for Indigenous communities today.

At its core, Thanksgiving in Canada is a holiday full of layers. For many, it’s about gathering with family, sharing a meal, and expressing gratitude for life’s blessings.

So now that you know a bit more about the history of Thanksgiving here in Canada, let me know what stood out to you. What did you already know? How did your day go yesterday?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Let’s chat! Drop a comment below!

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