thanksgiving in Canada

Canadian Thanksgi ving is celebrated on the 2nd Monday of October. This year Thanksgiving will fall on Monday, October 8, 2007.

European farmers in Europe held celebrations at harvest time to give thanks for their good fortune of a good harvest and abundance of food. They would often fill a curved goat's horn with fruits and grains. This was known as a cornucopia or horn of good plenty. When Europeans came to Canada it is thought to have become an influence on the Canadian Thanksgiving tradition.

The third influence happened in 1621 in what was to become the United States. Pilgrims celebrated their first harvest in the "New World". 

At the same time, French settlers arriving were also holding feasts of "thanksgiving". These celebrations and offerings of "Thanks" influenced the Canadian Thanksgiving.

In 1879 Canadian Parliament declared November 6th a day of Thanksgiving and a national holiday. Over the years the date of Thanksgiving changed several times until on January 31st, 1957 Parliament proclaimed....."that the 2nd Monday in October"........"be a Day of General Thanksgiving to Almighty God for the bountiful harvest with which Canada has been blessed.".         

                                           Ma'aaz et Alexandre