Thanksgiving, that glorious time of the year when we gather around tables groaning under the weight of turkey, stuffing, and enough pie to put us into a food coma until next Tuesday.
But if you’ve ever mentioned your Thanksgiving plans to an American friend in early October and watched their confused expression, you know something’s up. “Wait, Thanksgiving already happened?” they’ll say in late November. Or they’ll launch into an explanation of the Pilgrims, the Mayflower, and why the Macy’s parade is essential viewing.
Here’s the thing: Canadian Thanksgiving and American Thanksgiving may share some DNA (turkey, gratitude, family gatherings) but they’re more like distant cousins than twins. One happens when the leaves are just starting to turn, while the other waits until they’ve mostly fallen. One is a relaxed long weekend, while the other has become a four-day extravaganza complete with parades, football marathons, and shopping frenzies.
If you’ve ever wondered why Americans seem so bewildered by October Thanksgiving, or why they’re obsessed with Black Friday, or what’s up with those marshmallow-topped sweet potatoes, you’ve come to the right place. The truth is, these two Thanksgivings have different origins, different dates, different cultural weight, and yes, even some different foods.
So grab a slice of butter tart and settle in as we explore the 15 delightfully different ways these two harvest celebrations diverge. Whether you’re a curious Canadian, an expat navigating dual Thanksgivings, or someone who just loves understanding cultural differences, this guide will illuminate why Thanksgiving hits different depending on which side of the border you’re on.
The 15 Key Differences Between Canadian And American Thanksgiving
1. The Date: October Vs. November Makes All The Difference
Let’s start with the most obvious difference: Canadian Thanksgiving falls on the second Monday in October, while American Thanksgiving is celebrated on the fourth Thursday in November. That’s roughly a six-week difference, which means Canadians are already dealing with leftover turkey sandwiches while Americans are still shopping for Halloween candy.
The October timing in Canada aligns more closely with the actual harvest season in the northern climate. By late November, much of Canada is already blanketed in snow, and the harvest is long past. The American date reflects a slightly longer growing season in most U.S. regions, allowing them to wait until late November to celebrate the bounty of the harvest.
This date difference also means Canadian Thanksgiving kicks off the autumn season’s festivities, while American Thanksgiving acts as the official starting gun for the Christmas shopping frenzy, with Black Friday following immediately after.
2. Historical Origins: Multiple Traditions Vs. The Pilgrim Story
The origin stories of these two holidays couldn’t be more different. American Thanksgiving traces its roots to that famous 1621 feast shared by the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag people in Plymouth, Massachusetts. It’s been mythologized, sanitized, and turned into countless elementary school pageants.
Canadian Thanksgiving has murkier, more diverse origins. Some historians credit explorer Martin Frobisher, who held a ceremony in 1578 in Newfoundland to give thanks for surviving his voyage from England—43 years before the Pilgrims’ feast. Other traditions came from United Empire Loyalists who fled north after the American Revolution, bringing their thanksgiving customs with them. French settlers also celebrated successful harvests. Indigenous peoples had their own ancient traditions of giving thanks. Essentially, Canadian Thanksgiving is a beautiful melting pot of different thanksgiving traditions that eventually coalesced into one national holiday.
3. Cultural Significance: Different Levels Of National Importance
In the United States, Thanksgiving is a BIG DEAL. It’s arguably the most important secular holiday of the year, with an estimated 90% of Americans celebrating it. It’s the busiest travel day of the year, the Super Bowl of cooking, and for many families, the most important gathering of the year—yes, even more than Christmas.
In Canada, Thanksgiving carries less cultural weight. Don’t get me wrong—it’s certainly celebrated and enjoyed, and it’s a statutory holiday in most provinces, but it doesn’t have the same level of nationwide intensity. Some Canadians even use the long weekend for camping trips or cottage getaways rather than elaborate family feasts. It’s meaningful and important, but it doesn’t have the same “drop everything and come home” energy that American Thanksgiving commands.
4. The Three-Day Weekend Vs. Thursday Through Sunday
Canadian Thanksgiving is always on a Monday, creating an automatic three-day weekend. This built-in long weekend gives people time to travel, prepare, feast, and recover without using vacation days. Sunday is often reserved for cooking, Monday for the big meal and family time, and then it’s back to work on Tuesday.
American Thanksgiving falls on a Thursday, which creates a different rhythm. Many Americans take Friday off (or get it off automatically), creating a four-day weekend. However, because the holiday is on a Thursday, there’s often a frantic Wednesday night travel rush and cooking preparation. The Thursday feast is followed by Black Friday shopping madness, creating a very different post-turkey energy than the Canadian version.
5. Football: Central To American Culture, Optional In Canada
Both countries have football traditions on Thanksgiving, but they’re quite different. In Canada, the Canadian Football League (CFL) holds the Thanksgiving Day Classic, featuring games between rival teams. However, this isn’t quite as embedded in the cultural fabric as American football is for U.S. Thanksgiving.
In America, Thanksgiving and football are practically synonymous. The NFL has hosted games on Thanksgiving Day since 1920, and watching football is as much a part of the holiday as eating turkey. The Detroit Lions and Dallas Cowboys traditionally host games every year, and families across America plan their dinner schedules around game times. The couch-napping, turkey-coma, football-watching tradition is a Thanksgiving stereotype for a reason.
6. Proximity To Other Holidays: Space Vs. Clustering
Canadian Thanksgiving stands relatively alone on the calendar. It happens in early October, well separated from other major holidays. Halloween comes a few weeks later, and then Christmas isn’t until late December. This gives Thanksgiving its own breathing room.
American Thanksgiving is sandwiched much more tightly between Halloween and Christmas. In fact, it essentially serves as the official kickoff to the “holiday season.” Many Americans won’t even think about putting up Christmas decorations until after Thanksgiving. The holiday also sometimes overlaps with Hanukkah, and the whole November-December period becomes one long holiday marathon.
7. Black Friday: Absent In Canada, Massive In America
This is a significant difference. American Thanksgiving is immediately followed by Black Friday, one of the biggest shopping days of the year. Many retailers now open on Thanksgiving evening itself, and the entire holiday has become commercialized as the gateway to Christmas shopping season. Cyber Monday follows shortly after, and the whole period becomes a retail bonanza.
Canadian Thanksgiving has no such shopping tradition attached to it. While Canadian retailers have adopted Black Friday sales in recent years (despite it making little sense without connection to Canadian Thanksgiving), there’s no historical shopping tradition tied to the October holiday itself. Thanksgiving in Canada remains much more purely about the meal and gratitude, without the commercial pressures.
8. Parades: Scale And Santa’s Controversial Appearance
Both countries have Thanksgiving parades, but with notable differences. The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City is a massive, nationally televised spectacle watched by millions of Americans. It features enormous balloons, elaborate floats, Broadway performances, and—controversially—ends with the arrival of Santa Claus, essentially declaring that Christmas season has officially begun.
Canada has parades too, including the Kitchener-Waterloo Oktoberfest Thanksgiving Day Parade, but they’re smaller, more regional affairs that don’t command the same national attention. And importantly, Santa Claus doesn’t show up, because it’s only early October—too early to launch Christmas season. There’s still more than two months before anyone’s bringing out the jingle bells.
9. Weather Patterns And Outdoor Activities
October in Canada offers beautiful autumn weather—crisp, cool, with gorgeous fall foliage, but generally still pleasant enough for outdoor activities. Many Canadians use the long weekend for hiking, apple picking, visiting pumpkin patches, or getting in one last camping trip before winter truly sets in. The meal is important, but the long weekend is also about enjoying the autumn weather.
Late November in much of the United States can range from pleasant fall weather in the South to downright cold in the North, but it’s generally getting too chilly for extensive outdoor activities. American Thanksgiving tends to be more focused on indoor activities—the meal, the football, the family time around the dinner table. By late November, people are hunkering down for winter, not trying to squeeze in outdoor adventures.
10. School Breaks: Long Weekend Vs. Full Week Off
In Canada, because Thanksgiving is just a long weekend, there’s typically no extended school break. Students get Monday off, but they’re back in school on Tuesday. Similarly, most workers just get the Monday as a statutory holiday.
In the United States, many schools give students the entire week of Thanksgiving off, or at least Wednesday through Friday. Many Americans also take vacation days to extend the holiday into a full week, making it a prime time for family travel and extended gatherings. This makes American Thanksgiving a much bigger production in terms of planning and time commitment.
11. Religious Vs. Secular Emphasis: Different Evolutions
While both holidays began with religious elements of giving thanks to God for blessings and harvests, they’ve evolved differently. American Thanksgiving, despite its Pilgrim origins, has become largely secular for most families. Sure, many families say grace before the meal, but the holiday itself is more about family, food, and football than specifically religious observance.
Canadian Thanksgiving, while also widely celebrated in secular ways, tends to be quieter and simpler, often maintaining more of its original “giving thanks for the harvest” meaning without as much of the mythologized historical baggage. Many churches in Canada hold special Thanksgiving services, and there’s perhaps slightly more emphasis on the gratitude aspect rather than the spectacle.
12. Presidential Traditions: Turkey Pardoning And Political Ceremony
American Thanksgiving comes with presidential traditions, most notably the annual pardoning of the National Thanksgiving Turkey at the White House. This quirky ceremony, where the President officially “pardons” a turkey from becoming dinner, has become a beloved (if slightly ridiculous) tradition that garners national media attention.
Canada has no equivalent tradition. The Prime Minister doesn’t pardon turkeys or make special Thanksgiving proclamations that command national attention. The holiday is less about political ceremony and more about personal and family observance. The lack of political theatre keeps the focus on the meal and gathering rather than national spectacle.
13. The Leftover Experience: Different Timelines
Both nations love their Thanksgiving leftovers, but there are differences in how they’re handled. Because American Thanksgiving is typically a bigger production with more guests and more food, the leftover game is more intense. There are traditions around the “Thanksgiving leftover sandwich,” and families often eat turkey for days. Some hosts send guests home with carefully packed containers of food.
Canadian Thanksgiving leftovers are certainly enjoyed, but because the overall affair tends to be smaller and less elaborate, there’s often less leftover food. The long weekend is already over by Tuesday, so people are back to their regular routines more quickly, with less time to work through mountains of leftover turkey.
14. Travel Intensity: Busy Vs. Absolutely Chaotic
American Thanksgiving is the single busiest travel period in the United States, with millions of Americans flying or driving across the country to gather with family. Airports are packed, highways are jammed, and the entire nation seems to be in motion. Americans often travel hundreds or even thousands of miles for Thanksgiving, and this travel is considered a normal, expected part of the holiday.
Canadian Thanksgiving certainly involves travel, but it’s generally less intense. The distances in Canada can be vast, but there isn’t the same cultural expectation that everyone will travel home for Thanksgiving no matter what. Some families gather; others don’t. The holiday is important, but it doesn’t create the same level of travel chaos that grips the United States in late November.
15. Menu Flexibility: Codified Vs. Adaptable
While both nations center their Thanksgiving meals around turkey, Canadian Thanksgiving tends to be more flexible and regional in its menu. Alternative main dishes like ham, roast beef, or tourtière (a French-Canadian meat pie) appear more commonly at Canadian tables. The side dishes also reflect Canada’s multicultural influences and regional differences.
American Thanksgiving has a more codified “traditional” menu that most families feel obligated to follow: turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy, cranberry sauce, green bean casserole, sweet potatoes (often with marshmallows), and pumpkin pie. Deviating from this menu can actually be controversial in some families. While there are certainly regional and cultural variations, there’s more expectation to hit these “classic” dishes.
Canadian Thanksgiving Food Vs. American Thanksgiving Food
The Turkey: Same Bird, Different Timing
Both Canadian and American Thanksgivings center around the turkey, but there’s an important difference in timing. Canadian Thanksgiving falls during the actual harvest season when turkeys are naturally ready and local birds are more readily available. American Thanksgiving, being later in the year, often relies on frozen turkeys that have been stored since the harvest.
That said, the preparation methods are remarkably similar: roasting, sometimes brining, and always that anxious moment wondering if the bird will be done on time. Both nations struggle with the eternal question of whether the turkey is dry, and both have endless debates about stuffing (inside the bird vs. in a pan).
Stuffing And Dressing: Regional Variations Abound
Both countries love their bread-based stuffing or dressing, but regional variations tell different stories. In Canada, you might find wild rice stuffing reflecting Indigenous influences, or tourtière-spiced stuffing in Quebec. Maritime provinces might add seafood elements, while Prairie provinces lean into local grains and ingredients.
American stuffing varies regionally too, with some iconic versions: Southern cornbread dressing, New England oyster stuffing, or Midwestern sausage-heavy versions. Stove Top stuffing mix is an American institution that many families swear by, though it’s less common on Canadian tables.
The Sweet Potato Situation: A Major Divide
Here’s a big difference that often surprises people: the sweet potato casserole topped with marshmallows is quintessentially American and relatively rare in Canada. This divisive dish (is it a side? is it a dessert? why are there marshmallows involved?) is a mainstay of American Thanksgiving tables but often leaves Canadians scratching their heads.
Canadians do eat sweet potatoes at Thanksgiving, but they’re more likely to be roasted with maple syrup and butter or prepared in savory ways. The marshmallow topping just never gained the same cultural foothold north of the border, and many Canadians find the concept unusual when they first encounter it.
Cranberry Sauce: Canned Vs. Homemade Preferences
Both countries serve cranberry sauce, but Americans have a particular attachment to the canned, jellied version that retains the shape of the can and jiggles on the plate. This nostalgic favorite appears on many American Thanksgiving tables, often alongside a more sophisticated homemade version to satisfy all preferences.
Canadians are more likely to serve homemade cranberry sauce or cranberry relish with orange and other flavors. The canned version exists in Canadian stores, but it doesn’t have quite the same cult following or nostalgic pull that it does in the United States.
Pumpkin Pie And Regional Dessert Differences
Pumpkin pie is iconic for both celebrations, but Americans elevate it to near-mandatory status. It’s THE Thanksgiving pie, and many Americans would consider the holiday incomplete without it. Pecan pie is also hugely popular in the U.S., as are various apple pie preparations.
Canadians love pumpkin pie too, but you’re also more likely to see butter tarts (a Canadian specialty), Nanaimo bars, or other regional desserts making an appearance. The dessert spread might be less prescriptive, with more room for family favorites that aren’t specifically labeled as “Thanksgiving” desserts. There’s more flexibility in what constitutes appropriate holiday sweets.
Regional And Multicultural Influences On The Menu
Canadian Thanksgiving menus often reflect Canada’s multicultural makeup more explicitly. You might find Ukrainian perogies, Italian pasta dishes, Caribbean-spiced turkey, or Chinese stir-fry vegetables alongside traditional dishes. There’s perhaps more flexibility to blend cultural traditions without feeling like you’re straying from “real” Thanksgiving.
American Thanksgiving, while also influenced by various immigrant cultures, tends to have a more standardized “traditional American Thanksgiving” template that many families feel they should follow. Cultural dishes are often added as extras rather than replacements, with the core menu remaining relatively consistent across different communities.
Gravy Styles And Preparation
Both countries take their gravy seriously, but there are subtle differences. Canadian gravy might incorporate different seasonings or regional touches—some families add a splash of maple syrup, others use different herb combinations based on regional availability and tradition.
American gravy tends to follow more standardized recipes, though Southern families might add different touches than New England ones. The American focus on achieving the perfect, smooth, lump-free gravy is intense, with many families having fierce debates about the proper technique and ingredients.
Canadian Thanksgiving Traditions
The Harvest Connection Remains Strong
Canadian Thanksgiving maintains a stronger connection to actual agricultural harvest traditions. Many communities, especially in rural areas and farming regions, hold harvest festivals around Thanksgiving. These festivals celebrate the agricultural bounty with farmers’ markets, fall fairs, corn mazes, and apple festivals. There’s a tangible link to the land and the crops that inspired the holiday in the first place.
In contrast, American Thanksgiving has become more disconnected from agricultural roots for many urban and suburban families, focusing more on the family gathering and feast rather than the harvest itself.
Outdoor Activities And Cottage Weekends
For many Canadians, Thanksgiving weekend is about balancing indoor feasting with outdoor enjoyment. Families might visit their cottages one last time before closing them for winter, go hiking to see peak fall colors, visit conservation areas, or go apple picking. The long weekend is seen as an opportunity to enjoy autumn’s beauty before winter arrives.
This outdoor component is less central to American Thanksgiving, which occurs when the weather has typically turned colder and less inviting for extended outdoor activities. The American holiday is more firmly centered on indoor activities like cooking, eating, and watching television.
The Quieter, Lower-Key Approach
Canadian Thanksgiving traditions tend to be more understated than their American counterparts. While the family meal is certainly important, there’s generally less pressure to create an Instagram-perfect tablescape or a magazine-worthy feast. The focus genuinely remains on gratitude and gathering, without quite as much performance pressure.
Many Canadian families keep their celebrations relatively simple—a good meal, quality time together, and perhaps a walk in the crisp autumn air. The holiday hasn’t become the massive production that American Thanksgiving often is, with its elaborate decorations, multiple courses, and social media documentation.
Provincial Variations And Regional Differences
Thanksgiving isn’t even a statutory holiday in all Canadian provinces, which creates interesting regional variations. In Atlantic Canada (Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland and Labrador), it’s not an official day off for everyone, though many people still celebrate. Some workplaces give the day off; others don’t.
This regional variation reflects Canada’s more decentralized approach to holidays and traditions. Different provinces and communities observe Thanksgiving in different ways, and there’s acceptance of this variation rather than a push for nationwide uniformity.
Indigenous Influences And Acknowledgments
Increasingly, Canadian Thanksgiving includes acknowledgment of Indigenous peoples and their relationship with the harvest and the land. Many families and communities use the holiday as an opportunity to learn about and honor First Nations, Métis, and Inuit traditions and contributions to Canadian food culture.
Some Indigenous communities hold their own harvest celebrations that blend traditional practices with Thanksgiving observances. This acknowledgment of Indigenous harvest traditions adds depth and authenticity to the holiday’s connection to the land.
Community Dinners And Inclusive Celebrations
Many Canadian communities organize Thanksgiving dinners for those who might otherwise spend the holiday alone. Churches, community centers, and volunteer organizations host meals that bring together seniors, newcomers to Canada, students far from home, and anyone seeking community during the holiday.
These community celebrations reflect Canadian values of inclusivity and ensuring everyone has a place at the table during holidays. They’re less common (though not absent) in the United States, where Thanksgiving is more firmly centered on family gatherings.
Frequently Asked Questions about Canadian Thanksgiving
Why Do Canadians Celebrate Thanksgiving?
Canadians celebrate Thanksgiving to give thanks for the harvest and blessings of the past year. The tradition has multiple historical roots, including early European settlers giving thanks for successful harvests, explorer Martin Frobisher’s 1578 ceremony thanking God for surviving his journey to the New World, and United Empire Loyalists bringing thanksgiving traditions from America after the Revolutionary War. Over time, these various traditions merged into one national holiday focused on gratitude, family, and celebrating the autumn harvest. The holiday serves as a moment to pause and appreciate abundance, family, and the turning of the seasons.
How Is Canadian Thanksgiving Different From American Thanksgiving?
The main differences are the date (second Monday in October in Canada vs. fourth Thursday in November in the U.S.), the cultural importance (more low-key in Canada vs. a major cultural event in America), the origins (multiple historical sources in Canada vs. primarily the Pilgrim story in America), and the commercialization (minimal in Canada vs. heavily commercialized with Black Friday in the U.S.). Canadian Thanksgiving is also more closely tied to the actual harvest season, occurs during better weather for outdoor activities, and tends to have a more flexible menu. The holiday is less of a travel disruption in Canada and doesn’t come with the same level of national intensity that characterizes American Thanksgiving.
Is Canadian Thanksgiving Always On Columbus Day?
Not exactly, though it’s a common misconception. Canadian Thanksgiving sometimes coincides with the American observance of Columbus Day (now often called Indigenous Peoples’ Day), but they’re separate holidays with no connection. Canadian Thanksgiving is always the second Monday in October, while U.S. Columbus Day/Indigenous Peoples’ Day is also the second Monday in October, so they overlap. However, this is purely coincidental—Canadian Thanksgiving has nothing to do with Columbus and predates the establishment of Columbus Day as an American holiday. The timing of Canadian Thanksgiving was chosen to align with the harvest season, not to correspond with any American holiday.
Do Canadians Eat Turkey On Thanksgiving?
Yes, turkey is the traditional centerpiece of Canadian Thanksgiving dinner, just as it is in the United States. However, Canadian Thanksgiving menus tend to be slightly more flexible, and alternative main dishes appear more commonly. You might also encounter ham, roast beef, tourtière (a traditional French-Canadian meat pie), or other options depending on regional and family traditions. But the classic roast turkey with stuffing, potatoes, vegetables, cranberry sauce, and gravy remains the most common and popular choice across Canada. Many Canadian families wouldn’t consider it Thanksgiving without turkey taking center stage.
Which Came First: Canadian Or American Thanksgiving?
Technically, Canadian Thanksgiving came first if you trace it to explorer Martin Frobisher’s 1578 ceremony in Newfoundland—43 years before the famous Pilgrim feast of 1621. However, this comparison is somewhat misleading because these were different types of celebrations that evolved separately over centuries.
The modern versions of both holidays developed gradually and became official national holidays around the same era in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Canada declared Thanksgiving a national holiday in 1879, while the U.S. made it official in 1863. Both holidays draw from various historical traditions, indigenous practices, and European harvest celebrations, making it difficult to definitively say one “came first” in a meaningful way.
Is Thanksgiving A Statutory Holiday In Canada?
Thanksgiving is a statutory holiday in most Canadian provinces and territories, meaning most workers get the day off with pay. However, there are important exceptions. In the Atlantic provinces (Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland and Labrador) Thanksgiving is not a statutory holiday. Some employers in these provinces still give their workers the day off, and many people still celebrate the holiday, but it’s not universally observed as a day off work. This regional variation is characteristic of how holidays are managed across Canada’s provinces, with each province having some control over which days are designated as statutory holidays.
What Do Canadians Call Thanksgiving?
Canadians simply call it “Thanksgiving” or “Thanksgiving Day.” There’s no special Canadian name for it—within Canada, everyone understands that “Thanksgiving” refers to the October holiday. Sometimes you might hear “Canadian Thanksgiving” when Canadians are distinguishing it from the American version in conversation with Americans, or in contexts where clarification is needed.
In French-speaking parts of Canada, particularly Quebec, it’s called “Action de grâce,” which translates directly to “Thanksgiving.” In casual conversation, Canadians might refer to it as “Turkey Day” or “the long weekend,” but the official name remains simply Thanksgiving.
Do Canadians Watch Football On Thanksgiving?
Yes, many Canadians watch Canadian Football League (CFL) games on Thanksgiving Monday. The Thanksgiving Day Classic is a CFL tradition featuring matchups between rival teams, and it’s been part of the holiday for decades. However, football isn’t quite as central to Canadian Thanksgiving as it is to American Thanksgiving. While some Canadian families make watching the games part of their Thanksgiving routine, it’s not universal or essential to the celebration. Many Canadian families skip the football entirely in favor of other activities like going for walks, playing board games, or simply spending time together. The games are there for those who want them, but they’re not the cultural institution they are in the United States.
Why Is Canadian Thanksgiving In October?
Canadian Thanksgiving is in October because this timing better aligns with the harvest season in Canada’s northern climate. The harvest in most of Canada is completed by early to mid-October, making this an appropriate time to celebrate and give thanks for the agricultural bounty. By late November, when Americans celebrate Thanksgiving, much of Canada is already experiencing winter weather with snow on the ground in many regions, and the harvest has been over for weeks. The October date, specifically the second Monday, provides ideal timing: the weather is still pleasant enough for outdoor activities, the fall colors are at their peak, and it’s genuinely connected to the harvest that inspired the holiday. It’s a practical choice that reflects Canada’s climate and agricultural reality.
What’s The Difference Between Canadian And American Thanksgiving Parades?
American Thanksgiving parades, particularly the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City, are massive, nationally televised spectacles featuring giant character balloons, elaborate floats, celebrity performances, and Broadway show numbers. The Macy’s parade is watched by millions and has become an iconic part of American Thanksgiving, concluding with Santa Claus’s arrival to kick off Christmas season. Canadian Thanksgiving parades are generally smaller, more regional affairs that don’t command the same national attention. Examples include the Kitchener-Waterloo Oktoberfest Thanksgiving Day Parade, which is wonderful but serves a more local audience. Canadian parades don’t feature Santa Claus, as it’s considered too early in October to launch Christmas celebrations. The scale, national reach, and cultural significance are simply different between the two countries’ parade traditions.
Can You Celebrate Both Canadian And American Thanksgiving?
Absolutely! Many people who have connections to both countries, such as dual citizens, expats, or those with family on both sides of the border, celebrate both Thanksgivings. This means enjoying turkey dinners twice in a six-week period, which some people love (double the pumpkin pie!) and others find exhausting. Canadians living in the United States often celebrate American Thanksgiving with friends and colleagues while remembering their Canadian Thanksgiving in October. Americans living in Canada similarly might celebrate Canadian Thanksgiving while also gathering with fellow American expats in November. Some families split their celebrations, with one side of the family celebrating in October and the other in November. There’s no rule against celebrating both—though your waistline might protest the double turkey dinner!
Do Canadians Have Thanksgiving Dinner On Sunday Or Monday?
This varies by family, but the most common practice is to have the big Thanksgiving dinner on Monday, which is the actual statutory holiday. Many families use Sunday for preparation—grocery shopping, cooking dishes that can be made ahead, and perhaps some cleaning. Monday then becomes the main event with the turkey dinner typically served in the early to mid-afternoon. However, some families do choose to have their feast on Sunday instead, especially if Monday works better for travel schedules or if family members have to work on Tuesday. Some families even celebrate on Saturday to give themselves more recovery time before the work week. The three-day weekend format gives Canadian families flexibility in scheduling their celebration, unlike American Thanksgiving where the Thursday timing is more fixed.
Last Words
Whether you’re carving turkey in October or November, Thanksgiving is ultimately about the same core values: gratitude, family, and celebrating abundance. Canadian and American Thanksgivings may differ in timing, traditions, and intensity, but both offer a cherished opportunity to pause, reflect, and gather with loved ones over a delicious meal.
The differences between these two celebrations reflect the unique histories, climates, and cultures of each nation. Canadian Thanksgiving’s October timing and more relaxed approach suit the northern harvest season and the country’s character. American Thanksgiving’s late November date and grand scale reflect a nation that embraces its holidays with enthusiasm and pageantry.
Perhaps the most interesting aspect of these differences is what they reveal about each country’s character. Canadian Thanksgiving, with its flexibility, regional variations, and lower-key approach, reflects Canadian values of moderation, regional diversity, and work-life balance. American Thanksgiving, with its fixed traditions, national intensity, and associated commercial extravaganza, reflects American values of family, tradition, and going big on everything.
Neither approach is better or worse—they’re simply different, shaped by geography, history, and culture. Canadian Thanksgiving offers a perfect autumn long weekend with gorgeous weather, outdoor activities, and a meaningful meal without overwhelming stress. American Thanksgiving provides an elaborate, tradition-rich celebration that brings families together across vast distances for a shared cultural experience.
For Canadians, understanding these differences can help explain why American friends seem so intense about their late November holiday. For Americans visiting or living in Canada, it illuminates why October Thanksgiving makes perfect sense in a northern climate. And for those who celebrate both, it’s an excuse for twice the turkey, twice the pie, and twice the gratitude—which is never a bad thing.
So next time October rolls around and Americans seem confused by your turkey photos, you can explain that Canadian Thanksgiving is perfectly timed for the harvest, the weather, and enjoying a relaxed long weekend. And when November arrives and Americans are deep in their Thanksgiving preparations, you can watch with understanding—and maybe just a little gratitude that your turkey-induced food coma is already six weeks in the past.
Happy Thanksgiving, whenever you celebrate it! 🦃🍁