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Canadian Thanksgiving: What's the deal?

TankHammerTankHammer Atlanta GhostbusterAtlanta, GARegistered User regular
edited November 2006 in Debate and/or Discourse
Hi, happy Thanksgiving to all who celebrate. On this rainy, New England morning as I'm home, helping my dear sweet mother cook a million pounds of food for all the people joining us I ask this question: What is Canadian Thanksgiving?

I've seen it on the calendar and asked about it but never gotten a satisfactory answer on the matter. It's celebrated on a different day than American Thanksgiving, which would be odd if it were commemorating the same event. And what event is it exactly? Do Canadians really appreciate the survival of the early settlers in the Plymouth colony? Why would they have a holiday about it? Was it set up by American immigrants to Canada?

I'd like to discuss this and get some international input as to what it means to have Thanksgiving outside of the United States and how is it different?

EDIT:I googled a bit of info on it here for reference: http://www.twilightbridge.com/hobbies/festivals/thanksgiving/canada/
It answers a lot of my questions but I'd still like to discuss it.

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Posts

  • SerpentSerpent Sometimes Vancouver, BC, sometimes Brisbane, QLDRegistered User regular
    edited November 2006
    It's a continuation of the english tradition of giving thanks at the end of the harvest. I'm pretty sure that's where the American one comes from too.

    Serpent on
  • CorlisCorlis Registered User regular
    edited November 2006
    I always figured that it was earlier in Canada because summer (and thus the harvest) ends earlier. I don't know if that's really why however. Also, our first immigrants were the French, who obviously didn't care, and then later the British, who were probably more patriotic and didn't like the Pilgrims so much either (especially the Loyalists after independance)

    Corlis on
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  • RichyRichy Registered User regular
    edited November 2006
    This is just a guess, but I'll say that Thanksgiving was set up in Canada by American exiles, possibly Loyalists fleeing after Independance.

    It is my understanding that Thanksgiving is giving thanks for harvest. Harvest time is earlier in Canada, on account of the weather. Hence, thanksgiving is earlier.

    I don't know of any other nation that celebrates Thanksgiving, besides Canada and the USA.

    Richy on
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  • ProtoProto Registered User regular
    edited November 2006
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thanksgiving

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  • SatanIsMyMotorSatanIsMyMotor Fuck Warren Ellis Registered User regular
    edited November 2006
    Corlis wrote:
    I always figured that it was earlier in Canada because summer (and thus the harvest) ends earlier. I don't know if that's really why however. Also, our first immigrants were the French, who obviously didn't care, and then later the British, who were probably more patriotic and didn't like the Pilgrims so much either (especially the Loyalists after independance)

    Summer does not end in Canada before it ends in the US.

    SatanIsMyMotor on
  • TankHammerTankHammer Atlanta Ghostbuster Atlanta, GARegistered User regular
    edited November 2006
    Richy wrote:
    This is just a guess, but I'll say that Thanksgiving was set up in Canada by American exiles, possibly Loyalists fleeing after Independance.

    It is my understanding that Thanksgiving is giving thanks for harvest. Harvest time is earlier in Canada, on account of the weather. Hence, thanksgiving is earlier.

    I don't know of any other nation that celebrates Thanksgiving, besides Canada and the USA.
    Well yes, there are similarities to our Thanksgiving in the Canadian version that came from the loyalists, but I think they had it going since before that time.

    I'm curious though, since there are American transplants all over the world, if they take Thanksgiving with them. I know the film-team from Mission Impossible III had a Thanksgiving dinner in China, which caused a lot of craziness since they don't really have Turkeys there. American military bases all over the world obviously have SOME kind of dinner on November 23rd. Anyone have any stories?

    TankHammer on
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  • RichyRichy Registered User regular
    edited November 2006
    Kantankeris wrote:
    Richy wrote:
    This is just a guess, but I'll say that Thanksgiving was set up in Canada by American exiles, possibly Loyalists fleeing after Independance.

    It is my understanding that Thanksgiving is giving thanks for harvest. Harvest time is earlier in Canada, on account of the weather. Hence, thanksgiving is earlier.

    I don't know of any other nation that celebrates Thanksgiving, besides Canada and the USA.
    Well yes, there are similarities to our Thanksgiving in the Canadian version that came from the loyalists, but I think they had it going since before that time.

    Yes, I now see from Proto's link that I was off on the origins of Canadian thanksgiving. It was influenced by American Loyalists, but existed before that, and before American Thanksgiving.

    If it helps with the whole international perspective, Thanksgiving in Québec is called Action de Grâce, and is no big deal. We don't even get the day off.

    Richy on
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  • an_altan_alt Registered User regular
    edited November 2006
    The correct answer is that Canadians feel less thankful in late November than mid-October. It's a fact.

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  • Andrew_JayAndrew_Jay Registered User regular
    edited May 2021
    -

    Andrew_Jay on
  • YarYar Registered User regular
    edited November 2006
    Most major holidays are just modern-day versions of seasonal pagan celebrations. It's no big deal that we both have a fall-food-harvest thing.

    Yar on
  • CorvusCorvus . VancouverRegistered User regular
    edited November 2006
    Well, lets look at how Thanksgiving, Halloween and Christmas work out.

    Canada:
    Turkey
    Candy
    Turkey

    USA:
    Candy
    Turkey
    Turkey

    Corvus on
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  • SatanIsMyMotorSatanIsMyMotor Fuck Warren Ellis Registered User regular
    edited November 2006
    Andrew_Jay wrote:
    SatanIsMyMotor wrote:
    Summer does not end in Canada before it ends in the US.
    :|

    If you want to be technical (and also pretty dumb) about it, then yes, summer ends at the same time in Moose Jaw as it does in Miami.

    Your definition of technical does not necessarily equivicate to right then?

    SatanIsMyMotor on
  • Andrew_JayAndrew_Jay Registered User regular
    edited May 2021
    -

    Andrew_Jay on
  • TastyfishTastyfish Registered User regular
    edited November 2006
    We have harvest festival here in the Uk, but its rarely celebrated outside of preschool where it involves collecting tinned food to donate to a local charity of church. Used to be a bigger thing but in the age of refrigeration and internatioanl commerce its lost its impact.

    Tastyfish on
  • Nova_CNova_C I have the need The need for speedRegistered User regular
    edited November 2006
    Andrew_Jay wrote:
    SatanIsMyMotor wrote:
    Andrew_Jay wrote:
    SatanIsMyMotor wrote:
    Summer does not end in Canada before it ends in the US.
    :|

    If you want to be technical (and also pretty dumb) about it, then yes, summer ends at the same time in Moose Jaw as it does in Miami.
    Your definition of technical does not necessarily equivicate to right then?
    Not always, because it would silly to equate the two here.

    Though summer technically ends at the same time throughout the entire northern hemisphere (the 21st of September), "summer", and with it the growing season, is going to end sooner in Canada than the U.S., just like Corlis said.

    Or do you refuse to call it winter - regardless of how cold and snowy it might be - until precisely midnight on the 21st of December? :roll:

    I dunno man. It's pretty snowy and cold here in Calgary right now.

    I'd say it's winter.

    Nova_C on
  • ZonkytonkmanZonkytonkman Registered User regular
    edited November 2006
    Andrew_Jay wrote:
    SatanIsMyMotor wrote:
    Andrew_Jay wrote:
    SatanIsMyMotor wrote:
    Summer does not end in Canada before it ends in the US.
    :|

    If you want to be technical (and also pretty dumb) about it, then yes, summer ends at the same time in Moose Jaw as it does in Miami.
    Your definition of technical does not necessarily equivicate to right then?
    Not always, because it would silly to equate the two here.

    Though summer technically ends at the same time throughout the entire northern hemisphere (the 21st of September), "summer", and with it the growing season, is going to end sooner in Canada than the U.S., just like Corlis said.

    Or do you refuse to call it winter - regardless of how cold and snowy it might be - until precisely midnight on the 21st of December? :roll:

    not to brag to an ex newf, but it still hasn't snowed here, hell, it's beautiful here man. Last weekend i was at a wine and cheese and all the girls were out on the patio in dresses. I think you took winter with you.

    Zonkytonkman on
  • ShintoShinto __BANNED USERS regular
    edited November 2006
    Abe Lincoln set up thanksgiving on a fixed day in the United States in 1863. FDR then moved it back a week to increase the Christmas shopping season in hopes that it would aid the economy during the great depression.

    Shinto on
  • Meat67Meat67 Registered User regular
    edited November 2006
    SatanIsMyMotor wrote:
    Though summer technically ends at the same time throughout the entire northern hemisphere (the 21st of September), "summer", and with it the growing season, is going to end sooner in Canada than the U.S., just like Corlis said.


    In Japan, the last day of summer is August 31st.

    Meat67 on
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  • Dr_ColossusDr_Colossus Registered User regular
    edited November 2006
    Meat67 wrote:
    SatanIsMyMotor wrote:
    Though summer technically ends at the same time throughout the entire northern hemisphere (the 21st of September), "summer", and with it the growing season, is going to end sooner in Canada than the U.S., just like Corlis said.


    In Japan, the last day of summer is August 31st.

    In my opinion it's September 30th because on October 31st everyone starts wearing long sleeve shirts even if its still very warm out. Just like June 1st is the day everyone starts wearing short sleaves. Fuck me being the only guy in my entire company wearing my short sleeve uniform the day October 1st rolled around.

    Its a little strange but yesterday was Japan's version of Thanksgiving, Labour Thanksgiving Day. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Labour_Thanksgiving_Day

    Dr_Colossus on
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