The History of Canadian Thanksgiving

A Celebration of Gratitude with Indigenous Roots

Thanksgiving in Canada, as it is celebrated today, has evolved over centuries, weaving together a mix of Indigenous traditions, European influences, and national identity. While modern Thanksgiving is often associated with harvest meals, family gatherings, and expressions of gratitude, its roots are far more complex and culturally diverse. The celebration's history involves the merging of Indigenous practices of gratitude for the land's bounty, colonial harvest festivals, and religious rituals brought by European settlers.

Indigenous Traditions of Gratitude and Harvest

Long before the arrival of European settlers, Indigenous peoples across North America, including those in present-day Canada, had established deep-rooted traditions of expressing gratitude for the land's bounty. These celebrations were often tied to the seasonal rhythms of the land, particularly the harvest season, when communities would give thanks for the abundance of crops, game, and fish.

Seasonal Celebrations and Feasts

Indigenous peoples, including the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois), Mi'kmaq, Cree, and other First Nations, celebrated seasonal changes and the harvest through communal feasts, ceremonies, and offerings. These events were centred around the gathering and sharing of food, reinforcing the bond between community members and their relationship with the natural world. For example, the Haudenosaunee people held a "Thanksgiving Address" or "Words Before All Else," a daily expression of gratitude for the Earth and its provisions. This address was part of their agricultural cycle and their belief in living in harmony with the environment.

The Three Sisters and Harvest Traditions

In many Indigenous cultures, including those of the Haudenosaunee and Anishinaabe, the agricultural practice of growing corn, beans, and squash together was central to survival. These crops, known as the "Three Sisters," were planted in a symbiotic relationship, where each plant supported the others' growth. Indigenous peoples celebrated the harvest of these crops through ceremonies that honored the land and its resources. These celebrations often included storytelling, dance, and offerings to the spirits that protected the crops.

The Role of Salmon and Fish Harvests

For Indigenous peoples living along the West Coast, such as the Coast Salish, Nuu-chah-nulth, and Haida, the salmon run was a critical time for community celebrations and rituals of gratitude. The annual salmon harvest ensured food security for the winter months, and elaborate ceremonies were held to honor the salmon's life cycle and its role in sustaining the community. These ceremonies, often referred to as "First Salmon" feasts, involved prayers, offerings, and the sharing of salmon with all community members.

Early European Influences on Thanksgiving

The history of Thanksgiving as a formal holiday in Canada can be traced back to European settlers, particularly the English and French, who brought their own harvest traditions and religious practices of gratitude. The early European settlers to Canada were heavily dependent on the land and its resources for survival, and the celebration of the harvest became a way of giving thanks for a successful season.

Martin Frobisher’s Thanksgiving (1578)

The first recorded instance of a European-style Thanksgiving in what is now Canada took place in 1578, when English explorer Martin Frobisher held a ceremony of thanks in present-day Newfoundland. Frobisher and his crew had endured a perilous voyage while searching for the Northwest Passage, and upon safely arriving in the New World, they gave thanks for their survival. This event is often cited as the earliest European Thanksgiving in North America, predating the more famous American Thanksgiving by several decades.

Samuel de Champlain and French Harvest Festivals (1606)

French settlers, led by Samuel de Champlain, established a similar tradition of giving thanks in the early 17th century. In 1606, Champlain and his companions, known as the “Order of Good Cheer,” held regular feasts at Port Royal, in present-day Nova Scotia. These feasts, which included both settlers and Indigenous allies, were meant to boost morale during the harsh winter months. The gatherings were an opportunity to share food, celebrate survival, and express gratitude for the harvest. Although these early French harvest festivals were not formalized as a holiday, they contributed to the tradition of communal feasting and thanksgiving.

The Development of Thanksgiving in Colonial Canada

As European settlement in Canada expanded during the 17th and 18th centuries, the tradition of celebrating the harvest continued to evolve. The arrival of British and Irish settlers, along with other European immigrants, brought new cultural practices and religious observances that influenced the development of Thanksgiving.

Religious Services of Thanksgiving

Throughout the colonial period, thanksgiving services were held by Christian settlers in response to specific events, such as military victories, successful harvests, or the end of epidemics. These services were largely religious in nature, with prayers of gratitude and sermons delivered in churches. One notable example occurred in 1763 when the citizens of Halifax held a Thanksgiving service to mark the end of the Seven Years' War and the signing of the Treaty of Paris, which ended hostilities between Britain and France in North America.

The Influence of American Loyalists

During the American Revolution (1775-1783), thousands of Loyalists — American colonists who remained loyal to Britain — fled to Canada. These Loyalists brought with them the American tradition of Thanksgiving, which by this time had become more formalized in the United States. Although the two countries’ Thanksgiving holidays would diverge over time, the arrival of the Loyalists helped popularize the idea of a national day of gratitude in Canada.

The Agricultural Calendar and Harvest Celebrations

  In many parts of colonial Canada, particularly in rural communities, Thanksgiving was celebrated informally as a harvest festival. These celebrations typically took place in late September or early October, after the crops had been gathered. Families and communities came together to share food, give thanks for a bountiful harvest, and celebrate the end of the agricultural season.

The Formalization of Thanksgiving in Canadian History

It wasn’t until the 19th century that Thanksgiving began to take shape as a more formal, national holiday in Canada. Several key events and declarations contributed to the development of Thanksgiving as we know it today.

The First National Thanksgiving (1879)

The first official, nationwide Thanksgiving in Canada was declared on November 6, 1879, by the federal government. The day was designated as a time for Canadians to give thanks for the harvest and other blessings. It was celebrated similarly to how it is today, with family gatherings, feasts, and expressions of gratitude. However, the date of Thanksgiving was not fixed, and it varied from year to year, depending on the harvest season and other factors.

Post-World War I Thanksgiving (1921)

After World War I, Thanksgiving took on a more somber tone, as it was combined with Armistice Day (now known as Remembrance Day) on November 11, in recognition of the end of the war and in remembrance of fallen soldiers. For several years, Thanksgiving and Armistice Day were observed together, but this dual holiday was eventually separated in 1931, with Remembrance Day remaining on November 11 and Thanksgiving returning to its focus on the harvest.

Establishment of Thanksgiving in October (1957)

The modern date of Canadian Thanksgiving was established by a proclamation of Parliament in 1957. It declared the second Monday in October as "a day of general thanksgiving to Almighty God for the bountiful harvest with which Canada has been blessed." This date was chosen because it aligned with the end of the harvest season in most parts of the country and avoided conflict with Remembrance Day in November.

The Evolving Meaning of Thanksgiving in Modern Canada

Over time, the meaning of Thanksgiving in Canada has continued to evolve. While the holiday is still centered on themes of gratitude, harvest, and family, it has also become a time for reflection on Canada’s complex history with Indigenous peoples.

Acknowledging Indigenous Contributions: 

In recent years, there has been a growing awareness of the need to recognize the contributions of Indigenous peoples to the Thanksgiving holiday.

Indigenous communities were instrumental in teaching early European settlers how to grow and harvest crops, hunt game, and survive in the new world. Without Indigenous knowledge and cooperation, many settlers would not have survived the harsh conditions of early Canada. Today, some Canadians use Thanksgiving as an opportunity to honor Indigenous traditions of gratitude, stewardship of the land, and sustainable food practices.

Reconciliation and Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving has also become a time for reflection on Canada’s history of colonization and its lasting impact on Indigenous communities. As Canada continues to reckon with the legacy of residential schools, land dispossession, and other forms of colonial violence, some Canadians are rethinking how they celebrate Thanksgiving. For some, this involves incorporating Indigenous teachings into their Thanksgiving celebrations or using the holiday to support Indigenous food sovereignty movements and land acknowledgments.

Food and Sustainability

The traditional Thanksgiving meal in Canada often includes turkey, stuffing, root vegetables, and pumpkin pie—foods that have become associated with the holiday over time. However, there is also a growing movement to incorporate locally sourced and sustainably harvested foods into Thanksgiving meals, drawing inspiration from Indigenous food systems. By emphasizing seasonal, locally grown ingredients, Canadians can honor the land and its resources in a way that aligns with Indigenous principles of respect for the environment.

The history of Canadian Thanksgiving is a story of cultural convergence, adaptation, and evolving traditions. From the Indigenous practices of giving thanks for the land’s abundance to the European harvest festivals and religious