Yes, it's true - Thanksgiving started in Newfoundland almost 50 years prior to the Pilgrims landing in America. Many are under the incorrect notion (including my "Yankee" Mother 🤣) that Canadians basically celebrated Thanksgiving to copy the American Thanksgiving and to have another similar holiday. Well, this is definitely not the case.
The very first Thanksgiving celebration in North America took place in Canada when Martin Frobisher, an explorer from England, arrived in Newfoundland in 1578 after trying to find a northern passage to the Orient. Although obviously unsuccessful, he wanted to give thanks for surviving his journey to this New World and he held a ceremony of thanks. Also, as other settlers arrived, they too would have this celebration of thanks.
At the same time, French settlers, having crossed the ocean and arriving in Canada with explorer Samuel de Champlain, also held huge feasts of thanks. They even formed 'The Order of Good Cheer' and gladly shared their food with their Native Indian neighbours which became a yearly tradition by the settlers to give thanks for successful voyages, harvests, friends and family.
During the American Revolution, Americans who remained loyal to England moved north to Canada where they brought their Thanksgiving customs and practices. Therefore, as both celebrations were of European origin, it was no surprise that the celebrations were very similar in nature.
For a few hundred years, Thanksgiving was celebrated in either late October or early November, before it was declared a national holiday in 1879. It was then, that November 6th was set aside as the official Thanksgiving holiday. However, years later in 1957, Thanksgiving was then moved to the second Monday in October due to Remembrance Day being celebrated within the same week. Also, as the Canadian Thanksgiving was more a celebration to give thanks to the successful harvest, it made more sense to have the celebration during the Canadian harvest season. This is due to Canada being further north and it's harvest season comes sooner than the American harvest season.
Now, the modern day Thanksgiving, for both Americans and Canadians, are celebrated in similar fashion with family gatherings, football, pumpkin pie, parades and lots of Turkey! So, for my dear mother, and for all of those who are under the false notion that Canadians copied the American Thanksgiving celebration, this means that the first North American Thanksgiving was celebrated in Canada, 43 years before the pilgrims ever landed in Plymouth, Massachusetts in 1620! Put that in your pipe and smoke it! And no, we don't live in Igloo's! 😂
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