What is the history of Thanksgiving Day in Canada ?
Thanksgiving in Canada has had a long and changing history. According to Canadian historians, the origin and history of Thanksgiving in Canada prior to the legislative beginning of Thanksgiving in Canada in 1799 derive from three European traditions: (1) the harvest festival celebrations that for millenia have been observed in European cultures; (2) the formal celebrations that have been practised to mark a special occasion, with the first formal Thanksgiving celebration feast in Canada being practised in what is now Newfoundland and Labrador by the English explorer Sir Martin Frobisher (circa 1535 - 1594) in 1578. Frobisher, who was looking for the Northwest Passage in order to sail through the Arctic waters of North America to the Spice Islands and the Orient, eventually wound up in Newfoundland and held a ceremony of thanks to God for surviving such a long and arduous journey from England; and (3) the harvest celebration of the Pilgrims in Plymouth, Massachusetts which began in 1621, and eventually spread to Nova Scotia in the 1750's.
From the 18th century onward, when English colonists came from England to settle and establish farms in Canada, they also brought their annual autumn harvest celebration of thanks for a bountiful harvest that they had celebrated for centuries on their farms in the English countryside, along with the associated customs that consisted of reciting prayers and blessings of thanks to God during their church services. In addition, in 1710, a Thanksgiving ceremony was held in Halifax, Nova Scotia to mark the military victory of the British over the French at Porte-Royale, Acadia. Similarly, in 1760, another Thanksgiving celebration in Canada was held by the citizens of Halifax to mark another military victory by the British at Montreal. In 1762, the Scottish citizens of Halifax were the first group in Canada to add religious aspects to the celebration of Thanksgiving in Canada by reciting prayers and blessings at a Thanksgiving celebration that gave thanks for a plentiful harvest. In 1763, the end of the Seven Years' War was marked in Halifax, Nova Scotia by the celebration of a Thanksgiving feast. Also, during this time and thereafter, the United Empire Loyalists, those that had lived in the Thirteen Colonies and were loyal to Great Britain, left the Thirteen Colonies just prior to the American Revolution in 1776 and in great numbers when the United States was created in 1776 and emigrated to all parts of Canada, bringing with them and spreading throughout Canada the elements of the American Thanksgiving customs, such as the eating of turkey, pumpkin, and squash.
This takes us to the beginning of legislating Thanksgiving Day in Canada, and the following timeline and chronology table lists all the legislation related to Thanksgiving in Canada, beginning in 1799, plus the reasons for celebrating Thanksgiving per legislation. The latest legislation concerning Thanksgiving Day in Canada was proclaimed by the Canadian Parliament on January 31, 1957. In this proclamation, the second Monday in October was permanently proclamied and fixed as being the day for Thanksgiving Day in Canada, and this has been the case to this day.
Proclamation and Observance of General Thanksgiving Days in Canada (Pre- and Post-Confederation) and Reasons For Observance: Timeline - Chronology.
Lower Canada (British colony, 1791-1841)
| Date of Observance | Reasons |
|---|---|
| Thursday, 10 Jan. 1799 | In signal victory over our enemy and for the manifold and inestimable blessings which our Kingdoms and Provinces have received and daily continue to receive |
| Thursday, 12 Aug. 1802 | For God's mercies |
| Thursday, 21 Apr. 1814 | For glorious victories over our enemies |
| Tuesday, 13 Sept. 1814 | End of sanguinary contest in Europe and to give the Dominions blessings of Peace |
| Thursday, 6 Apr. 1815 | End of the war with the United States of America and restoration of the blessings of Peace |
| Tuesday, 21 May 1816 | End of war between Great Britain and France |
| Wednesday, 6 Feb. 1833 | Cessation of cholera |
| Wednesday, 1 Nov. 1834 | End of quarantine of ships at Grosse Isle |
| Monday, 26 Feb. 1838 | For the termination of the Rebellion |
Upper Canada (British colony, 1791-1841)
| Date of Observance | Reasons |
|---|---|
| Tuesday, 18 June 1816 | End of war between Great Britain and France |
| Thursday, 14 Feb. 1833 | To continue God's mercies |
| Thursday, 30 Oct. 1834 | To continue God's mercies |
| Tuesday, 6 Feb. 1838 | To continue God's mercies |
Province of Canada or the United Province of Canada
(British colony that, through the Act of Union in 1840, consisted of the territorial merger of both Upper Canada and Lower Canada by abolishing the legislature for both colonies and establishing a new, single legislative assembly for the new province which had equal representation from both former colonies, 1841-1867)
| Date of Observance | Reasons |
|---|---|
| Thursday, 3 Jan. 1850 | For God's mercies and cessation of grievous disease |
| Wednesday, 4 June 1856 | For restoration of Peace with Russia |
| Thursday, 3 Nov. 1859 | For abundant harvest and continuation of Peace |
| Thursday, 6 Dec. 1860 | For God's mercies |
| Wednesday, 11 Nov. 1863 | For abundant harvest and continuation of Peace |
| Wednesday, 18 Oct. 1865 | For God's mercies |
Confederation (1867 onward)
| Date of Observance | Reasons |
|---|---|
| Monday, 15 April 1872 | For restoration to health of H.R.H. the Prince of Wales |
| Thursday, 6 Nov. 1879 | Blessings of an abundant harvest |
| Wednesday, 3 Nov. 1880 | Blessings of an abundant harvest |
| Thursday, 20 Oct. 1881 | Blessings of an abundant harvest |
| Thursday, 9 Nov. 1882 | Blessings of an abundant harvest |
| Thursday, 8 Nov. 1883 | Blessings of an abundant harvest |
| Thursday, 6 Nov. 1884 | Blessings of an abundant harvest |
| Thursday, 12 Nov. 1885 | Blessings of an abundant harvest |
| Thursday, 18 Nov. 1886 | Blessings of an abundant harvest |
| Tuesday, 21 June 1887 | 50th Anniversary of Her Majesty's accession to Throne |
| Thursday, 17 Nov. 1887 | Blessings of an abundant harvest |
| Thursday, 15 Nov. 1888 | Blessings of an abundant harvest |
| Thursday, 7 Nov. 1889 | Blessings of an abundant harvest |
| Thursday, 6 Nov. 1890 | Blessings of an abundant harvest |
| Thursday, 12 Nov. 1891 | Blessings of an abundant harvest |
| Thursday, 10 Nov. 1892 | Blessings of an abundant harvest |
| Thursday, 23 Nov. 1893 | Blessings of an abundant harvest |
| Thursday, 22 Nov. 1894 | Blessings of an abundant harvest |
| Thursday, 21 Nov. 1895 | Blessings of an abundant harvest |
| Thursday, 26 Nov. 1896 | Blessings of an abundant harvest |
| Tuesday, 22 June 1896 | Diamond Jubilee of H.M. Queen Victoria |
| Thursday, 25 Nov. 1897 | Blessings of an abundant harvest |
| Thursday, 24 Nov. 1898 | Blessings of an abundant harvest |
| Thursday, 19 Oct. 1899 | Blessings of an abundant harvest |
| Thursday, 18 Oct. 1900 | Blessings of an abundant harvest |
| Thursday, 28 Nov. 1901 | Blessings of an abundant harvest |
| Thursday, 26 June 1902 | King Edward VII's Coronation (cancelled, changed to August 9, 1902) |
| Saturday, 9 Aug. 1902 | King's Coronation, as a day of General Thanksgiving and rejoicing |
| Thursday, 16 Oct. 1902 | As a day of General Thanksgiving |
| Thursday, 15 Oct. 1903 | Blessings of an abundant harvest |
| Thursday, 17 Nov. 1904 | Blessings of an abundant harvest |
| Thursday, 26 Oct. 1905 | Blessings of an abundant harvest |
| Thursday, 18 Oct. 1906 | Blessings of an abundant harvest |
| Thursday, 31 Oct. 1907 | Blessings of an abundant harvest |
| Monday, 9 Nov. 1908 | Blessings of an abundant harvest |
| Monday, 25 Oct. 1909 | Blessings of an abundant harvest |
| Monday, 31 Oct. 1910 | Blessings of an abundant harvest |
| Monday, 30 Oct. 1911 | Blessings of an abundant harvest |
| Monday, 28 Oct. 1912 | Blessings of an abundant harvest |
| Monday, 20 Oct. 1913 | Blessings of an abundant harvest |
| Monday, 12 Oct. 1914 | Blessings of an abundant harvest |
| Monday, 11 Oct. 1915 | Blessings of an abundant harvest |
| Monday, 9 Oct. 1916 | Blessings of an abundant harvest |
| Monday, 8 Oct. 1917 | Blessings of an abundant harvest |
| Monday, 14 Oct. 1918 | Blessings of an abundant harvest |
| Monday, 13 Oct. 1919 | Blessings of an abundant harvest |
| Monday, 18 Oct. 1920 | Blessings of an abundant harvest |
By Statute
| Date of Observance | Reasons |
|---|---|
| Monday, 8 Nov. 1921 | On Armistice Day |
| Monday, 7 Nov. 1922 | On Armistice Day |
| Monday, 6 Nov. 1923 | On Armistice Day |
| Monday, 10 Nov. 1924 | On Armistice Day |
| Monday, 9 Nov. 1925 | On Armistice Day |
| Monday, 8 Nov. 1926 | On Armistice Day |
| Monday, 7 Nov. 1927 | On Armistice Day |
| Monday, 6 Nov. 1928 | On Armistice Day |
| Monday, 11 Nov. 1929 | On Armistice Day |
| Monday, 10 Nov. 1930 | On Armistice Day |
By Proclamation
| Date of Observance | Reasons |
|---|---|
| Monday, 15 Oct. 1931 | For general thanksgiving to Almighty God for the blessings with which the people of Canada have been favoured |
| Monday, 10 Oct. 1932 | For general thanksgiving to Almighty God for the blessings with which the people of Canada have been favoured |
| Monday, 9 Oct. 1933 | For general thanksgiving to Almighty God for the blessings with which the people of Canada have been favoured |
| Monday, 8 Oct. 1934 | For general thanksgiving to Almighty God for the blessings with which the people of Canada have been favoured |
| Thursday, 24 Oct. 1935 | (first fixed on Monday Oct. 14, then changed to Oct. 24, due to General elections on Oct. 14) |
| Monday, 12 Oct. 1936 | For general thanksgiving to Almighty God for the blessings with which the people of Canada have been favoured |
| Monday, 11 Oct. 1937 | For general thanksgiving to Almighty God for the blessings with which the people of Canada have been favoured |
| Monday, 10 Oct. 1938 | For general thanksgiving to Almighty God for the blessings with which the people of Canada have been favoured |
| Monday, 9 Oct. 1939 | For general thanksgiving to Almighty God for the blessings with which the people of Canada have been favoured |
| Monday, 14 Oct. 1940 | For general thanksgiving to Almighty God for the blessings with which the people of Canada have been favoured |
| Monday, 13 Oct. 1941 | For general thanksgiving to Almighty God for the blessings with which the people of Canada have been favoured |
| Monday, 12 Oct. 1942 | For general thanksgiving to Almighty God for the blessings with which the people of Canada have been favoured |
| Monday, 11 Oct. 1943 | For general thanksgiving to Almighty God for the blessings with which the people of Canada have been favoured |
| Monday, 9 Oct. 1944 | For general thanksgiving to Almighty God for the blessings with which the people of Canada have been favoured |
| Monday, 8 Oct. 1945 | For general thanksgiving to Almighty God for the blessings with which the people of Canada have been favoured |
| Monday, 14 Oct. 1946 | For general thanksgiving to Almighty God for the blessings with which the people of Canada have been favoured |
| Monday, 13 Oct. 1947 | For general thanksgiving to Almighty God for the blessings with which the people of Canada have been favoured |
| Monday, 11 Oct. 1948 | For general thanksgiving to Almighty God for the blessings with which the people of Canada have been favoured |
| Monday, 10 Oct. 1949 | For general thanksgiving to Almighty God for the blessings with which the people of Canada have been favoured |
| Monday, 9 Oct. 1950 | For general thanksgiving to Almighty God for the blessings with which the people of Canada have been favoured |
| Monday, 8 Oct. 1951 | For general thanksgiving to Almighty God for the blessings with which the people of Canada have been favoured |
| Monday, 13 Oct. 1952 | For general thanksgiving to Almighty God for the blessings with which the people of Canada have been favoured |
| Monday, 12 Oct. 1953 | For general thanksgiving to Almighty God for the blessings with which the people of Canada have been favoured |
| Monday, 11 Oct. 1954 | For general thanksgiving to Almighty God for the blessings with which the people of Canada have been favoured |
| Monday, 10 Oct. 1955 | For general thanksgiving to Almighty God for the blessings with which the people of Canada have been favoured |
| Monday, 8 Oct. 1956 | For general thanksgiving to Almighty God for the blessings with which the people of Canada have been favoured |
| Monday, 14 Oct. 1957 | For general thanksgiving to Almighty God for the blessings with which the people of Canada have been favoured |
| Years thereafter | Proclamation of 1957 fixing for the years thereafter Thanksgiving Day on second Monday in October |
Source: Government of Canada, Department of Canadian Heritage Website: http://www.canadianheritage.gc.ca/progs/cpsc-ccsp/jfa-ha/graces_e.cfm
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