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Written By
Zain Usmani
Sep 24, 2024
•Life in Canada
Celebrating your first Thanksgiving in Canada? Here’s a quick guide to common traditions and history. From sharing a feast to great fall weekend activities, here’s how to enjoy this cherished Canadian holiday!
Canadian Thanksgiving is rooted in Indigenous values, including giving thanks for surviving winter and for receiving crops and game as a reward for their hard work. First Nations traditions would include feasting, prayer, dance and other ceremonies. However, the concept of thanksgiving was influenced by our American neighbours. Celebrating Thanksgiving in Canada holds deep cultural significance.
Thanksgiving finds its origins in the 17th century. In 1620, a group of religious separatists left England to establish a colony in the New World. After landing on the coast of current-day Massachusetts, the colonists allied with the nearby Wampanoag community. The Wampanoag people taught the “pilgrims”, as they are now called, how to cultivate corn, catch fish, and avoid poisonous plants.
In 1957, Thanksgiving became an official holiday in Canada. Since then, the day has served as a way to give thanks for good fortunes in the past year.
While it originally celebrated harvests, today it’s about giving thanks for all the good in our lives. It’s a non-religious holiday that fosters inclusivity across cultures and beliefs. Thanksgiving in Canada embodies a spirit of unity and gratitude.
Thanksgiving is about giving thanks and helping those less fortunate and in need. Food Banks Canada holds Thanksgiving food drives to distribute food to those who need it. It’s common for Canadians to donate to food drives or volunteer to serve Thanksgiving meals within their community to help others. As an important part of Canadian culture, volunteering benefits newcomers who want to contribute to and learn about their local community.
Canadians celebrate Thanksgiving on the second Monday of October, and this year it falls on October 14, 2024. It’s a time to bid farewell to summer and welcome the cooler months.
Families usually celebrate Thanksgiving with neighbours and family friends. The Thanksgiving feast is the main event that takes place during the holiday. It is a great way to reunite with family members who don’t live close enough to meet regularly. If you don’t have family close by, you can invite friends and neighbours to a Thanksgiving dinner. Gathering for Thanksgiving in Canada often involves sharing a meal with loved ones.
The Thanksgiving feast usually includes a roasted turkey with stuffing, gravy, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, and pumpkin pie. Of course, every family has its traditions, and the feast can vary.
Many families celebrate over the weekend leading to the holiday on Monday, allowing for more time to gather with loved ones. Thanksgiving Weekend is a great time for family members to get together. Often, relatives living in different cities or provinces gather to enjoy the Thanksgiving feast together. Celebrating Thanksgiving in Canada often involves a long weekend filled with family activities.
Thanksgiving weekend in Canada is the perfect time to take part in autumn activities. Whether you take a drive to view the trees changing colours, attend a local fall fair, or visit a pumpkin patch, you’ll find many events and fun activities. You may even want to bake a pumpkin pie! Thanksgiving in Canada is also a great time to enjoy the beauty of autumn.
Canadians also enjoy watching football, with both the Canadian Football League (CFL) and the National Football League (NFL) hosting Thanksgiving games on the holiday. The CFL holds a Thanksgiving classic with a doubleheader featuring four different teams. The games air on National TV as well as multiple sports channels. Sports are an integral part of Thanksgiving traditions in Canada.
Thanksgiving is a statutory holiday in most provinces, although it’s optional for employers in the four Maritime provinces. That means employers may give employees the day off, but they do not have to.
Thanksgiving is a day that holds meaning for many Canadians. It is a time to gather with family and enjoy a festive meal while also giving thanks for everything we have. It’s also a time to reflect on the origins of the holiday and the role of Canada’s Indigenous Peoples. The First Nations people are an integral part of our culture, history and future and to whom we owe a great debt. Thanksgiving Canada is a time to acknowledge these important aspects.
To all celebrating Thanksgiving in Canada, we wish you warmth and gratitude!
WRITTEN BY
Zain Usmani
Writer, Prepare for Canada
My name is Zain Usmani and I am a freelance content writer who currently resides in Mississauga, Ontario. I immigrated from Pakistan to Canada 5 years ago and have lived in many cities ever since. I have lived in Calgary AB, Edmonton AB, Regina SK, London ON, and Mississauga ON, while visiting over 40 Canadian cities and towns. I have a great passion for writing and I love helping people through it.
© Prepare for Canada 2025
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