CANADA'S THANKSGIVING
Many enquires have been posted about Canadian Thanksgiving. Some Americans are confused and don't believe we celebrate on a different date. Here is Google.
Canadian Thanksgiving started with early celebrations in 1578, but it wasn't made a national holiday until 1879, and its date shifted over the years. The date was officially set on the second Monday in October in 1957.
Early celebrations:
The first recorded Canadian Thanksgiving was in 1578 when explorer Martin Frobisher held a ceremony to give thanks for his safe journey. French settlers also held feasts of thanks starting in the early 1600s.
First national holiday:
After Canadian Confederation, the first official Thanksgiving was a civic holiday on April 5, 1872, to celebrate the Prince of Wales's recovery from a serious illness. Parliament established an annual Thanksgiving Day on November 6, 1879.
Date changes:
For decades, the date varied and was often held in early November. After World War I, it was sometimes celebrated on the same day as Armistice Day.
Current date:
In 1957, the Canadian Parliament proclaimed that Thanksgiving would be celebrated on the second Monday in October.
Library and Archives Canada