October 10, 2022 is Thanksgiving in Canada, an annual Canadian holiday observed on the second Monday of October to celebrate the seasonal harvest and the friends, family and blessings for which Canadians are grateful.
Canadian markets are closed, including the Toronto Stock Exchange, TSX Venture Exchange, TSX Alpha Exchange and Montreal Exchange.
The holiday is unique to Canada and is not related to Columbus Day or Indigenous Day in the US, which happen to be observed on the same day this year.
Although some of Canada’s Thanksgiving concepts have been influenced by Thanksgiving in the US, such as the traditional foods that are served, Thanksgiving in Canada has its own history that is more closely linked to European traditions and Canada’s indigenous peoples.
Also read: Is the stock exchange open on Columbus Day?
Here are 5 interesting facts about Thanksgiving in Canada:
- Thanksgiving in Canada predates the arrival of European settlers. Many Canadians recognize that the indigenous people of Turtle Island (now known as North America) practiced traditions of thanksgiving as a reward for the long labor of harvesting crops and game.
- The first Canadian Thanksgiving occurred in 1578, 43 years before the first “American” Thanksgiving, in Newfoundland, Canada. Later, in 1606, festivals were shared between French settlers and the native Mi’kmaq.
- The holiday was officially declared in 1879 and was to take place on November 6th every year. After World War I, the date was changed to the second Monday in October to ensure that Thanksgiving never coincided with Remembrance Day, which takes place on November 11 to honor and commemorate the Canadian Armed Forces.
- Although official Thanksgiving always falls on a Monday, Canadians celebrate with family and friends all three days of the long weekend or more than one day with foods like turkey, mashed potatoes, carrots, corn, sweet potatoes, stuffing and pie. Ham and roast beef dinners are also cooked instead of…
