Why is Canadian Thanksgiving celebrated in October?

While Americans celebrate Thanksgiving on the fourth Thursday of November, Canada observes the holiday on the second Monday of October, which this year falls on October 14. To understand why, we spoke to Andrew McIntosh, senior subject editor at the Canadian Encyclopedia.

The reason behind the earlier date, he explains, lies in Canada's climate. “Winter comes a lot earlier in Canada, so our fall harvest happens earlier, too,” McIntosh says. Historically, Canadian Thanksgiving has been about celebrating the fall harvest and giving thanks for the abundance before the colder months arrive. “Canadian Thanksgiving was set as the second Monday in October, when the weather is still amenable to outdoor activities, in 1957," he adds.

However, the tradition goes back much further. The first official Canadian Thanksgiving took place in 1879, although its date was not fixed until much later. “The exact date was determined annually by Parliament, and each year had a unifying theme, often centred around celebrating the monarchy,” McIntosh says. Interestingly, the holiday has even coincided with American Thanksgiving a few times and, in some years, occurred as late as December.

Modern-day celebrations

Today, many Canadians choose to celebrate on the Sunday before the official holiday, allowing extra travel time for those who journey home for the long weekend. As for the menu, Canadian Thanksgiving shares many similarities with its American counterpart.

“Canadians very much appropriated the traditional Thanksgiving dinner from America,” McIntosh explains. The typical spread includes turkey, gravy, potatoes, squash, rolls, cranberry sauce, and, of course, pumpkin pie. But regional differences abound in this vast, diverse country.

“In Newfoundland, Jigg’s dinner, a salt meat stew, is often preferred over turkey. Scalloped potatoes replace mashed, and cranberry sauce is used instead of gravy,” says McIntosh. Meanwhile, in Western Canada, some opt for ham and Brussels sprouts as side dishes. Indigenous foods like bannock (fry bread) and staples from other cultures, such as perogies and cabbage rolls, also make an appearance at many Thanksgiving tables.

Sweet traditions and regional favourites

Regional variations are most noticeable when it comes to dessert. While pumpkin pie remains the go-to treat in most of Canada, different regions have their favourites. McIntosh notes that apple pie and apple crisp are more popular in Quebec and Atlantic Canada, while Ontarians are fond of butter tarts. Out west, Nanaimo bars (a no-bake dessert) are a Thanksgiving favourite.

Interestingly, many French-speaking Quebeckers do not celebrate Thanksgiving. “Thanksgiving in Canada was originally a Protestant holiday, often used to give thanks for the British monarchy,” McIntosh explains, which alienated Catholic French Canadians. “Anglo Quebeckers and immigrant communities in Quebec may celebrate, but for many, Thanksgiving is simply a day off school."

Indigenous perspectives

Although Thanksgiving in the United States is viewed by some Indigenous groups as a National Day of Mourning, the holiday is seen differently by many Indigenous peoples in Canada. McIntosh notes, “Canada’s Indigenous peoples tend to experience Thanksgiving more similarly to English Canadians: as an opportunity to enjoy good food and time with family.” While tensions exist around the holiday’s association with colonial history, many Indigenous communities also celebrate the traditional foods that predate European settlement, including turkey, squash, corn, and cranberries.

Seasonal festivities

While Canada doesn’t have an event on the scale of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, harvest festivals and seasonal events take place across the country. On Prince Edward Island, the Fall Flavours event showcases the island’s local food and drink, while Alberta’s Smoky Lake hosts the Great White North Pumpkin Fair, where this year’s winning pumpkin weighed over 2,100 pounds.

In contrast to the United States, Canadian Thanksgiving is not tied to retail sales. “We don’t have anything like Black Friday,” McIntosh says, adding that stores are typically closed on the holiday. “It’s also not the biggest travel time in Canada — that’s reserved for Christmas.”

Instead, Canadians use the holiday to relax, watch sports, and prepare for the approaching winter. “It is Canada, after all. Winter is coming.”