In Canada, Thanksgiving dates back to 1578 and the exploration of the Northwest Passage by Martin Frobisher. Canada was untouched by Columbus but many non Canadian people associate Thanksgiving with the US Columbus Day. Rather our first contact with Europeans came in the 12th century with the arrival of the Norse explorer Leif Erikson of Iceland, and later Greenland. From Wikipedia Thanksgiving in Canada
"Years later, French settlers, having crossed the ocean and arrived in Canada with explorer Samuel de Champlain, in 1604 onwards also held huge feasts of thanks. They even formed the Order of Good Cheer and gladly shared their food with their First Nations neighbours."
The Canadian Thanksgiving "… corresponds to the English and continental European Harvest festival, with churches decorated with cornucopias, pumpkins, corn, wheat sheaves, and other harvest bounty, … drawn from biblical stories relating to the Jewish harvest festival of Sukkot."
I know that my own church has large displays of harvest bounty. We support others with a "modern bounty" . . . food donations that go to our local food bank.
Happy Thanksgiving!
10 Responses to “Happy Thanksgiving Canada”
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Thanks for the great history lesson, Lynn. Seem to me Canadians haven't strayed away from the original Harvest Festival, and the idea of sharing the food that was harvested with others, as many Americans have done. Perhaps that will alter when they rename Columbus Day.
Anyway: I hope all my Canadian friends have a very happy Thanksgiving today.
Excuse me – I may not be seeing straight (my eye doctor just informed me I am due for a checkup – but is that a PURPLE PUMPKIN? Holy squash, Batman!
Lona, it's kind of you to say "when" and not "if." I have my doubts. I will continue to hold good thoughts, however.
Canada does have a good grasp. It's much easier to feel thankful when you are not hungry.
No, your eyesight is not failing you as for the "purple"squash", I have seen them from time to time.
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Thanks Jim –
In connection with indigenous peoples, here is a cause I have pushed before and which is in need of another push: http://www.changethecourse.org/recognition?recruiter_id=207
Thanks JD. I am trying to put together a piece on Columbus Day, or rather the background etc and the call to drop Columbus. I have heard of the Houma people and will include this. Thanks
Thank you Lynn , and to you as well and to all the good people i've come to see continueously on care 2 and to Joanne D for including the petition that i tried to sign before and couldn't but in here i could . And , without trying to rush things Happy Thanksgiving to you all as well when your turn rolls around .
Petition signed.
List of federally recognized tribes by state
In January 2015 the United States' Federal Register issued an official list of 566 tribes that are Indian Entities Recognized and Eligible To Receive Services From the United States Bureau of Indian Affairs.[2] The number of tribes increased to 567 in July 2015 with the federal recognition of the Pamunkey tribe in Virginia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_federally_recognized_tribes_by_state
State recognized tribes in the United Stateshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/State_recognized_tribes_in_the_United_States
List of unrecognized groups claiming to be American Indian tribes
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_unrecognized_tribes_in_the_United_States
Happy Thanksgiving, Lynn and all the rest of our good neighbors to the North!
To all of our Canadian Friends on C2 and PP, do enjoy your Holiday with Family & Friends…
Hugzzz…
May all those in Canada find much to be thankful for this Thanksgiving Day!