Canadian Thanksgiving: Origins, Traditions and Recipes

Thanksgiving is a tradition that most people associate with the USA, but did you know the holiday is also celebrated in Canada? 

While Thanksgiving isn’t quite as big as it is in the USA, it still marks an important date in the diary for many Canadians. 

But how did the tradition come about in Canada? And how is it celebrated today? Let’s find out!

The origins of Canadian Thanksgiving

Celebrating Canadian Thanksgiving is a time-honoured tradition that can be traced back several centuries. In fact, it actually predates American Thanksgiving! 

The earliest record of Thanksgiving in Canada dates back to 1578, when English explorer Martin Frobisher and his crew held a special meal to celebrate their safe arrival in what is now Nunavut.

As more European settlers moved to Canada, Thanksgiving grew in popularity. At the time, the tradition was all about expressing gratitude to God for providing plentiful harvests of food.

Thanksgiving was established as a holiday in 1879, however it wasn’t until 1957 that the date that the holiday is celebrated today – the second Monday of October – was officially proclaimed.

This is around six weeks earlier than Thanksgiving in the USA, with the date aligning more closely with the end of the summer harvest in Canada.

How is Canadian Thanksgiving celebrated?

Canadian Thanksgiving is a more lowkey event than its American counterpart, with celebrations also varying from province to province and family to family. 

Unlike with Canada Day and some of the other big Canadian holidays, employers are not required to give workers the day off. 

With this in mind, many families will gather over the preceding weekend to spend quality time together and share a special meal. 

Besides indulging in some classic Canadian food, another popular activity is watching the Thanksgiving Day Classic doubleheader that takes place in the Canadian Football League. 

In many cities, there are also Thanksgiving parades for families to enjoy, the biggest of which is the Kitchener-Waterloo Oktoberfest Thanksgiving Day Parade in Kitchener.

What food do Canadians eat on Thanksgiving?

The main event for most Canadians at Thanksgiving is a big feast shared with the family. 

The centrepiece often takes the form of a succulent roast chicken or turkey, usually accompanied by a generous serving of gravy. 

Alternatively, some families will serve up roast ham or tourtière, a meat pie filled with minced pork, beef or veal and plenty of potatoes. 

In Newfoundland, a more traditional meal known as a Jigg’s Dinner is enjoyed. The dish consists of salt beef, cabbage, turnips and potatoes, all boiled together in the same pot. 

In terms of desserts, many families finish their Thanksgiving meal with a spicy pumpkin pie, often topped with cloves, ginger and cinnamon.

Recipes to celebrate Canadian Thanksgiving

If you fancy hosting your own Thanksgiving feast, we have plenty of traditional recipes covering sides, mains and desserts. 

Perfect for marking a special occasion, this maple-glazed ham is packed with sweet, meaty flavour and can be made ahead of time. 

For your accompanying vegetables, why not try these wonderful maple-glazed carrots with garlic yoghurt, cranberries and almonds? 

For gin lovers, this maple-infused homemade sloe gin is the perfect drink for toasting a special occasion. 

For dessert, this pumpkin and date cake with caramelised pecans and a maple cream cheese frosting is a worthy ending to any meal.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Even if you don’t usually celebrate Thanksgiving, it’s always good to get into the habit of showing gratitude for the things and people that make you happy. And, of course, Thanksgiving is a great excuse for having a big feast! 

Looking for more recipe inspiration? Check out the rest of our recipes with maple syrup!