Canadian and US Thanksgiving Traditions

tions of Thanksgiving in Canadaof November and made a Federal Holiday.
Like all the harvest festivals throughout history, theEven though it is a secular holiday, since the beginning
overt celebration of gratefulness of the Earth'sof the nation has a religious overtone. Though set
bounteousness is through a fabulous feast! Gatheringaside as a day to thank God for the bounty of the
up with the family for a day of enjoyment andEarth, this is not required.
fellowship is easier in Canada than in many otherAlthough not the first Thanksgiving event in the history
countries. While the official Thanksgiving Day is onof the United States, the "official" point of origin is taken
Monday, Canadians usually celebrate it during the entirefrom the Plymouth Colony of Massachusetts.
three-day weekend.Therefore the traditional decorations include Pilgrims,
After the main meal, it is traditional to kick back andpumpkins, Indians and turkeys. In honor of the harvest,
relax while watching the featured "Thanksgiving Daycorn stalks, ears, cornucopias and gourds also find their
Classic" football game. Not to be confused with theway into Thanksgiving Day displays. Plays and
American version of football, the Canadian Footballpageants are often performed with this theme in both
League offers a doubleheader schedule of games forschools and religious institutions.
the Thanksgiving Day celebration.Alongside the omnipresent turkey are prepared
Besides the indoor activities or the family dinner, theadditional Native American foods such as mashed and
weekend of Thanksgiving is traditionally the occasionsweet potatoes, pumpkin pie, corn, and cranberry
for a last big outdoor extravaganza. Either participatingsauce. It is still proper to offer a prayer at the beginning
or watching the numerous Thanksgiving Day paradesof the meal, whether to a God or general good
that are such an entire part of the holiday will get onefortune. Many organizations take this time to put
out of the house and into the end of the summer air.together food drives for donating Thanksgiving meals
The Thanksgiving weekend is also traditional for takingto the poor and needy.
that last outdoor getaway before winter sets in and isThe Thanksgiving Day parades are the biggest and
a perfect time for hiking, fishing or simply enjoying themost popular of the year, rivaling and generally even
outstanding autumn colors.beating out the Christmas parades.
While the Thanksgiving Day celebration is a secularAmerican Football is also a part of the Thanksgiving
event, those with a religious mind have their owncelebration. Both major leagues hold special game
Thanksgiving traditions that they partake of in theirevents on Thanksgiving Day and several of the teams
churches. With the old European harvest festivals inalways play on this day. In schools, it is the end of the
mind, most churches are decorated with the traditionalfootball season and the games played near the
cornucopias, wheat sheaves, pumpkins, gourds andThanksgiving Day holiday are traditionally scheduled as
corn ears. There are particular scriptural texts andlongstanding Rivalry Matches between schools.
hymns that are emphasized at this time of the year toAnother of the great Thanksgiving traditions actually
celebrate the harvest and their gratefulness to theirtakes place on the day after. Called "Black Friday", it is
God for providing for them.the official beginning of the Christmas shopping season
Traditions of Thanksgiving in the United Statesand retail stores often start it off with big sales and
While Thanksgiving is celebrated yearly in the Unitedspecial shopping events.
States since 1863, it has been often bounced aroundWhether in Canada or in the United States, religious or
and given different reasons for celebration. By thesecular, it is a great excuse to celebrate and
mid-20th century it had been firmly placed at the endappreciate the things we have!