I know for most Canadians it is over already (having most likely eaten the bird yesterday), yet nonetheless, when I realized it hadn’t been done yet, I thought I should say it. (Besides, we’re “celebrating” today at two!)
So enjoy your bird,
and give thanks, you can afford
a whistle (or more)
A haiku… that rhymes!
Nico
Right. We had our Thanksgiving dinner yesterday. I was as stuffed as the turkey afterwards. Yummy apple pie. That was the best.
Steve
Happy Thanksgiving, my northern neighbors! I’ve always thought Thanksgiving in October made much more sense. Having Christmas 4 weeks later in the U.S. is too soon, too rushed.
See you in Windsor!
Cara
Out of curiosity, do you guys also celebrate the arrival of the Mayflower? What’s the significance of the October date?
Some president tried to establish a thanksgiving holiday in Brazil (on the same date as the US, i think), but fortunately the idea didn’t last long.
g
Glauber, Canadians started celebrating Thanksgiving before the Mayflower had arrived in the US. As for the October date, it was moved there from November at the end of WWI to separate it from the observance of Armistice Day, now called Remembrance Day, on Nov. 11.
Here’s a link to a site that discusses the history of the Canadian celebration. It’s rather generic, but it does the job.
basic Canadian Thanksgiving explanation
Jef
I don’t know that it has any particular significance. Here’s what I found.
"In 1879 Canadian Parliament declared November 6th a day of Thanksgiving and a national holiday. Over the years the date of Thanksgiving changed several times until on January 31st, 1957 Parliament proclaimed…“that the 2nd Monday in October”…“be a Day of General Thanksgiving to Almighty God for the bountiful harvest with which Canada has been blessed.”.
In the United States, Thanksgiving is celebrated on the 4th Thursday of November according to a declaration by President Abraham Lincoln in 1863. If you think about it this does make sense - since in Canada we have a shorter growing season and our harvest is sooner then in the US - our Thanksgiving celebrations should be earlier to celebrate the harvest time."
See you in November Cara. I’m looking forward to the gathering.
Steve
Thanks! This is very interesting. And Sir Martin Frobisher is a very cool name! 
Thanksgiving is about giving thanks, and not about the Pilgrim Fathers. They are simply the most enduring image of the observance.
As did Virginians.
I have been given to understand that Canadians are actually giving thanks for not being Americans 
.
But I can’t remember if it was a Canadian or an American of the USA persuasion who told me that. It probably works either way 
.
Either way, they are usually quick to point out their non-American status.