Thanksgiving Day in Canada Date in the current year: October 14, 2024

Thanksgiving Day in Canada celebrates the harvest and other blessing of the past year. It was proclaimed by the Parliament of Canada on January 31, 1957 and since then it's an annual holiday.

The history of Thanksgiving Day in Canada can be traced back to 1578, when Martin Frobisher from England started voyage in search of the Northwest Passage. During the voyage one ship of 15 was lost. The expedition was plagued by ice and storms scattered the fleet. The ships met in Frobisher Bay, and the men who survived organized a feast.

In the 19th century Thanksgiving Day was celebrated in many parts of Canada, but the dates were different. After Canadian Confederation Thanksgiving Day was declared a national holiday in 1879 and it was celebrated either in October, or in November. From 1879 the date of Thanksgiving Day was a Thursday in November and the date of celebration was changing for several times. In 1957 is was officially declared to be on the second Monday in October.

Thanksgiving Day traditions, like in the USA, include a special dinner, when roasted turkey, mashed potatoes with gravy, stuffing, sweet potatoes, sweet corn, vegetables, cranberry sauce and pumpkin pie are served.