Issue link: https://www.cominghomemag.com/i/1525817
C a n a d i a n T h a n k s g i v i n g Canadian Thanksgiving is a revered national holiday made for being with friends and family, saying "thank you," and eating delicious fall foods. Although the modern event is very similar to American Thanksgiving, the cause is slightly different—and it predates the first American Thanksgiving by 43 years. While Indigenous people in Canada have long had traditions of giving thanks for receiving crops and surviving winter, the first recorded Canadian Thanksgiving dinner was held by English sailor Sir Martin Frobisher and his crew in 1578. They ate a meal of salted beef, biscuits, and mushy peas to celebrate safely arriving in what's now Nunavut, Canada's biggest and northernmost territory. Moving forward, festivities were hosted sporadically to express gratitude for the protection of explorers as they journeyed to the New World. Over time, the fêtes grew to also show appreciation for a generous fall harvest, and Thanksgiving became a holiday on November 6, 1879. In 1957, Parliament changed the date to the second Monday in October to distance it from American Thanksgiving and better align with the conclusion of the harvest season. Now, Canadians enjoy football and the classic fare, like turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, and other seasonal foods; however, their Thanksgiving is more low-key than American Thanksgiving. It isn't celebrated in all parts of Canada, and companies aren't required to give employees the day off. H o w t o C e l e b r a t e : • Watch the Canadian Football League's Thanksgiving Day Classic • Stream the Kitchener-Waterloo Oktoberfest Thanksgiving Day Parade • Eat a Jiggs dinner with boiled pea pudding, corned beef, and root vegetables • Gather with friends and family • Give thanks for good fortunes from the previous year • Bake butter tarts