Thanksgiving

The holiday table

The centrepiece of Thanksgiving is a large shared dinner, most often eaten on Sunday evening rather than Monday. A classic spread features roast turkey or ham accompanied by savoury bread stuffing, mashed potatoes topped with gravy, and tart cranberry sauce. Autumn produce features heavily, from roasted squash and sweet potatoes to glazed yams, rutabagas, and Brussels sprouts. Dessert usually includes spiced pumpkin pie or warm apple pie. Depending on the province, households might also serve local staples such as baked Pacific salmon, game meats, sweet butter tarts, Nanaimo bars, or Newfoundland Jiggs dinner paired with split-pea pudding.

Historical beginnings

Early Canadian celebrations of thanks date back to 1579, when English explorer Martin Frobisher held a communion service in Nunavut to thank God for surviving a treacherous Arctic voyage. French settlers led by Samuel de Champlain established the Order of Good Cheer in the early 1600s, hosting feasts to boost winter morale. Following the American Revolution, Loyalists moving north brought familiar traditions such as roast turkey and squash. Through the nineteenth century, colonial governments declared individual days of thanksgiving for military triumphs or royal recoveries before the federal government established an official, recurring national holiday in 1879.

Community and sports

Beyond home dining rooms, the long weekend inspires widespread public gatherings. Agricultural fairs showcase prize livestock and autumn crops, while local events like Fort Langley's cranberry festival or Bavarian parades in Waterloo draw festive crowds. Sports form another central pastime during the holiday. The Canadian Football League stages its annual Thanksgiving Day Classic on Monday afternoon, traditionally pitting the Montreal Alouettes against the Ottawa Redblacks. Meanwhile, Christian places of worship often decorate their altars with wheat sheaves, pumpkins, and cornucopias to reflect the season's agricultural blessings.

Official status

Although Parliament formally designated the second Monday in October as Thanksgiving Day in 1957, the holiday had shifted across various autumn and spring dates for decades. It was previously combined with Armistice Day during the 1920s before separating again. Today, the day functions as a paid statutory holiday under federal law and across the majority of provinces. In eastern coastal provinces, employers may treat the day as optional, though federally regulated businesses such as postal services, telecommunications firms, and national banks observe the holiday nationwide.

How Thanksgiving is kept

Families and close friends assemble over the three-day weekend, most frequently sitting down for a large feast on Sunday afternoon or evening. Hosts prepare a table filled with roast meats, root vegetables, stuffing, and pies. During the holiday weekend, people watch the Canadian Football League afternoon match on television, attend regional agricultural exhibitions, or visit community harvest markets. Some congregations hold church services where sanctuaries are decorated with seasonal produce and grains.

When and where

Thanksgiving occurs annually on the second Monday in October. A proclamation issued by Governor General Vincent Massey in 1957 permanently set this calendar position, giving Canadians a three-day weekend in early autumn.

The holiday is observed across Canada. It holds statutory status in most provinces and territories, while remaining an optional holiday in parts of Atlantic Canada. Federally regulated workplaces observe the day across the entire country.

What Thanksgiving means

At its heart, the holiday serves as an expression of gratitude for the agricultural harvest and the blessings of the past year. It echoes both British and European harvest festival customs, symbolising bounty, communal survival through harsh seasons, and appreciation for family life.

On the table

• Roast turkey
• Bread stuffing
• Mashed potatoes and gravy
• Cranberry sauce
• Pumpkin pie
• Butter tarts
• Nanaimo bars
• Jiggs dinner

Thanksgiving dates: 2026, 2027, 2028

Questions people ask about Thanksgiving

See also

KwanzaaA seven-day African American celebration of heritage, family and community valuesHalloweenAn annual observance on 31 October marking the eve of All Saints' Day, rooted in Christian tradition and Celtic heritageHoliA spring festival of colours and bonfires that marks the end of winter and the triumph of good over evil.Mid-Autumn FestivalAn annual harvest festival celebrating family reunions, full moons and mooncakes

Good reading and sources

• The history of Canadian Thanksgiving—and how it differs from U.S. festivitiesNational Geographic, Article
• The history of Canadian Thanksgiving—and how it differs from U.S. festivitiesNational Geographic, Article

• Thanksgiving (Canada) on WikipediaEncyclopedia
• More photos on Wikimedia CommonsPhotos and video
• Wikidata recordOpen data

It may contain mistakes. Traditions differ from one family, village and community to the next, and the people who keep them know them best. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-10-04.