Today is Canadian Thanksgiving, and while most Americans might be gearing up for their own version in November, our neighbors to the north are already slicing up the turkey and celebrating in true Canuck style. Canadian Thanksgiving falls on the second Monday of October, giving folks an earlier opportunity to gather around and give thanks for a good harvest, health, and perhaps, the good sense to avoid Black Friday.
You might be wondering how different their celebration is compared to the American Thanksgiving. Well, for starters, Canadian Thanksgiving isn’t tied to a dramatic story of pilgrims and Indigenous people breaking bread. Instead, it’s rooted in more straightforward harvest traditions, with the first official Thanksgiving dating back to 1879. And, while the turkey, stuffing, and cranberry sauce are staples on both sides of the border, Canadians throw in their own twists. It’s not uncommon to find butter tarts or Nanaimo bars alongside the pumpkin pie, because, why not?
What’s particularly charming about Canadian Thanksgiving is its quieter nature. There’s no national frenzy of travel or football madness. Sure, there’s some Canadian Football League (CFL) action for those who need a sports fix, but overall, it’s more relaxed—just family, friends, and food. Perhaps it’s also a chance for those in Baja’s Canadian expat community to get together and feel a little closer to home with their traditions.
And yes, while Americans are still weeks away from their own feast day, Canadians in Baja are likely already enjoying an extra-long weekend with good food, good company, and perhaps a toast to their home country. So, if you happen to spot someone at your local grocery store eyeing up the cranberry sauce today, they might just be preparing to host their own Canadian-style celebration.
To our Canadian readers out there, Happy Thanksgiving! Enjoy the turkey, and don’t forget to sneak in some maple syrup wherever you can.
