Thursday, October 04, 2007

Thursday Thirteen: Canadian Thanksgiving

Monday, October 8th, Canadians celebrate Thanksgiving. In honour of this upcoming holiday, I bring you:

#36 - 13 Things About Canadian Thanksgiving

  1. Thanksgiving, or Thanksgiving Day (Action de grâce in French), is an annual one-day holiday to give thanks for all that one has at the end of the harvest season.

  2. In Canada, Thanksgiving is celebrated on the second Monday in October.

  3. Although the Monday is the statutory holiday, Canadians celebrate Thanksgiving on any day of the three-day weekend (Saturday, Sunday or Monday).

  4. The history of Thanksgiving in Canada goes back to an explorer, Martin Frobisher, who had been trying to find a northern passage to the Orient. He did not succeed but he did establish a settlement in Canada. In the year 1578, he held a formal ceremony, in what is now the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, to give thanks for surviving the long journey. This is considered the first Canadian Thanksgiving, and the first Thanksgiving to have taken place in North America.

  5. After the Seven Year's War ended in 1763, the citizens of Halifax held a special day of Thanksgiving.

  6. During the American Revolution, Americans who remained loyal to England moved to Canada where they brought the customs and practices of the American Thanksgiving to Canada.

  7. The first Thanksgiving Day in Canada after Confederation was observed on April 15, 1872, to celebrate the recovery of The Prince of Wales (later King Edward VII) from a serious illness.
  8. Starting in 1879 Thanksgiving Day was observed every year but the date was proclaimed annually and changed year to year. The theme of the Thanksgiving holiday also changed year to year to reflect an important event to be thankful for. In the early years it was for an abundant harvest and occasionally for a special anniversary

  9. After World War I, both Armistice Day and Thanksgiving were celebrated on the Monday of the week in which November 11 occurred. Ten years later, in 1931, the two days became separate holidays, and Armistice Day was renamed Remembrance Day.

  10. On January 31, 1957, the Canadian Parliament proclaimed:

    A Day of General Thanksgiving to Almighty God for the bountiful harvest with which Canada has been blessed … to be observed on the 2nd Monday in October
  11. Today, Thanksgiving provides an opportunity for Canadians to give thanks for having the good fortune to live in a bountiful, free country, and to celebrate that day by feasting with family and friends.

  12. Most families in Canada celebrate Thanksgiving with a special dinner for family and friends. The traditional dinner often includes a roasted turkey, stuffing, cranberries, mashed potatoes, vegetables and apple or pumpkin pie.

  13. I hope all Canadians, no matter where they are living, have a very happy Thanksgiving this coming weekend!
Update on me: I seem to be pretty much back to normal, except for soft, stinky trips to the litterbox. I took my last pill yesterday, and I go back to the vet tonight, so we'll see what she has to say, but I am eating and behaving normally. Thank you all for your prayers and purrs. They are very much appreciated!

44 comments

The Cat Realm said...

Dragonheart - where do you get all this stuff? You are such an educated cat with such an abundance of knowledge! Thank you for sharing this with us. Keep healthy
Karl

Anonymous said...

First, I'm happy to find my way back to your blog. I remember the cat. :-)

Second, thanks for the bit of history. I always wondered why the Canadian celebration was celebrated on a different day, but was too lazy to look it up. Thanks for clearing up the mystery.

If you like sci fi at all, I'll be doing a Sci Fi Octoberfest. Check out 13 reasons to join our sci fi Octoberfest 2007.

michico*Adan*Lego-小芥*阿丹*樂高 said...

These are very great information, Happy ThanksGiving to you, too. I also like to thanks for your mommy and daddy have you, so I can know you. Thanks your daddy has been allergic to cats except Sphynx, so that I could know you~!!

These are all happy Thanks Giving~!!

Good to know your litterbox trip is doing well, have great result tonight~!!! I will continue purrrs for you~!

Purrrrs, Purrrrs, Purrrrs,
Purrrrs, Purrrrs, Purrrrs,
Purrrrs, Purrrrs, Purrrrs,
Purrrrs, Purrrrs, Purrrrs,
Purrrrs, Purrrrs, Purrrrs,
Purrrrs, Purrrrs, Purrrrs,

Adan

MISS PEACH ~(^.^)~ said...

Oh I am so happy you are doing better brother dearest. A prayer is answered.
You made me hungrey for turkey now...it is my favorite meal and I just love Thanksgiving. Now I know more about Canadian Thanksgiving too!
Come by if you have time,I have tagged you for the desktop meme:)
Love Peachy

Ramses said...

Oh I know one you've not added! :)
14. It's often my Mummy's Birthday on Canadian Thanksgiving and that's the real reason for the celebrating!

It's gotta be true as my Nana's Birthday is July 4th and all of America celebrate it with her! It's only right that Canada celebrate my Mummy's Birthday with her, 'specially as she lived there for 18 yrs! ;)

PS: I've tagged you for a meme - hope you enjoy it! :)

Daisy said...

I never knew about Canadian Thanksgiving before. I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving, Dragonheart!

Memories of Eric and Flynn said...

That was very interesting. We never knew anything about Canadian Thanksgiving before today.

Parker said...

When my Mommy was younger she always went to her friends house in Windsor to celebrate Canadian Thnaksgiving (she is originally from the Mitten state) - it was always fun! It was also like having 2 Thanksgivings!

The Devil Dog said...

Dear Dragonheart, mom has to change her settings because on her monitor, the right side of all your words are cut off. Please don't feel badly about this, mom would never hurt your feelings, she likes you too much. Mom has really bad eyes. If you take her glasses off, she couldn't drive and she could barely walk without help. I mean, she could see the BIG things, but the smaller ones, well, not so much. Mom picked you because you have so many interesting things on your blog and she thought your desktop might be the same.

Roxy

The Devil Dog said...

PS Dragonheart. Auntie gives mom LOTS of grief because of mom's monitor settings, but mom just ignores her. Mom does like to be different at times.
Your list was very educational. Thank you very much. I love an educated cat.

Roxy

SandyCarlson said...

Thanks for this story. I never knew any of this. I really enjoyed the history lesson. Have a great holiday!

Mine's up at
http://slcthoughts.blogspot.com

jenn said...

Happy Thanksgiving!

Samantha & Mom said...

Wow, great T13! It's always fun to learn how other countries celebrate their holidays. And we are so glad you are feeling better. Good luck at the Vet today.

Also ConCatulations, you at 10,001 and China Cat & Willow at 9,999 are out 10,000 Visitor Contest Winners. We just need you to email us your address, so we can send the package.

Your FL furiends,

Mickey's Musings said...

Happy Thanksgiving Dragonheart and also your Mom & Dad!

We look forward to family being together,dinner and pumpkin pie with ice cream!(well Mom does)
I like the ice cream,I always get a little bit.

Anonymous said...

Happy Thankgiving to all the Canadians about. :)

Thanks for the info.

~X

Rosemary B❤️ said...

We hope you and your beans have a good time preparing for your Thanksgiving this week-end.

This is a wonderful TT about your Thanksgiving! Our brains are filled with knowledge!

Happy Day Drago!!

<3<3 and Purrs
Caesar and Princess

LZ said...

Sigh...I'm pretty sure the LL is dying to be Canadian. Happy Thanksgiving!!

Kaze

Hot(M)BC said...

Happy Fanksgiving (early hehehe), Dragonheart!!! Fanks for the info bout yall's Fanksgiving too. I hope it goes grate at the v-e-t. Glad yoo's feelin better!
Purrrrrrrrrs,
Sanjee and the gang

The Misadventures Of Me said...

I am's so happy you's are feelings better.

Thanks you for sharing about the Canadian Thanksgiving, it was interestings.

MeezerMom said...

Dragonheart, we is glad you is feeling better. now that you're done wif the pills, hopefully you won't haf stinky poos anymore.

oooo turkey!!!!! turkey is GOOD

The Crew said...

Gosh, you sure know lots of interesting things.

But I think the most important question is, are YOU getting a few bites of turkey? Oh, maybe not 'cause you're still recovering. Well, better luck next year!

Cinnamon Girl said...

As long as there pie!

Carolina Cats said...

Dragonheart, we're so glad yore feeling better!

We hope you have a furry wonderful Thanksgiving Day and you get some of the yummy foods.

Hugs & purrs,
Finny & Buddy

Monty Q. Kat said...

Glad you're feelin better Dragonheart! (I hope your bum thingies are okay too, I don't know if I'd let a bean fiddle around back by spot #13...)

Forty Paws said...

Thank you for educating us on the Canadian Thanksgiving Holiday! How interesting!

Luf, Us

Zippy, Sadie, Speedy and M'Gee said...

Glad yoor feeling better Dude! I suffer from skwishy, very stinky poops. Mom has done a lot of stuff to try to fix it but I think she is learning to live with it. Good luck at da vets...I think dey is gonna touch yoor spot #13 *shiver* be brave!~Speedy

Anonymous said...

Dragonheart, you are always broadening my horizons. Without you, what would I do about foreign policy?

Anonymous said...

Dragonheart we are so happy to hear that your are feeling well. Hopefully the trip to the v-e-t will be a good one.

It is very interesting to read about the origin of Canadian Thanksgiving. It seems like both Canadian and US thanksgiving are quite similar.

Wishing you and your family a bountiful and happy Thanksgiving.

Skeezix the Cat said...

Canadians are so much smarter than Amerikuns --- it's always a 3-day weekend for yoo! My FL is bummd she has to werk the day after owr Thanksgiving.

ANGEL ABBYGRACE said...

Dragonheart

You and Daisy teach me so much...wow my head is filling up with knowledge.

I am sure glad that you are on the mend.

:-)

Purrs
Abby

The Furry Fighter said...

wow, what amazing facts! i saw a documentary about Frobisher a few months ago...it was very interesting...

we should have Thanksgiving in the UK too - we dont get nearly enough holidays!

hope you are feeling tickety-boo! xxx

ASTOR CATS said...

We're glad to hear that things are getting back to normal for you. Hope the trip to the vet goes well. Enjoy the Thanksgiving weekend - don't eat too much like most beans tend to do. Thanks for sharing the information about Canadian Thanksgiving.

Midnite & Stray Kitty

Jimmy Joe said...

HAPPY THANKSGIVING, GUYS! Thanksgiving is our favorite holiday!!! Momma says maybe she'll marry a Canadian some day just so we can have two Thanksgivings.
Your buddy, Jimmy Joe

Anonymous said...

That's excellent; I didn't know Canadians had an official Thanksgiving. Nice that it hasn't lost its connection to its original roots (harvest festival).

The colleague who wrote our T13 today SPECIFICALLY mentions you in one item, by the way.

Big Piney Woods Cats said...

It is great you are better. MIttens is better too, most of the time, anyway.
Patches

Denise Patrick said...

I always learn something new when I visit. Thanks.

Happy TT!

Unknown said...

Yay! Thanksgiving this weekend! Turkey and a long weekend!

Dragonheart, I am glad you are feeling better.

Karen Jo said...

Happy Thanksgiving, Dragonheart. I knew that Canadians had a Thanksgiving celebration, but I never knew much about it. I am glad that you are feeling better. I hope the vet visit went very well.

Anonymous said...

Those are some very interesting facts about Canada.

The Cat Realm said...

I need your help to make a decision - if you have time, come and take the poll at my blog? Thank you!
Karl

Siani said...

So glad you're okay, Dragonheart. And thanks for this very informative list about Canadian Thanksgiving.

Diamond Emerald-Eyes said...

Xanga eat my blog yesterday, so I am running late on everything. Oct. 8 is first day of hockey camp here, so all the Canadians will be working. They will give them American Thanksgiving off (my purrrthday!) and the booster club here will take them food and throw a big dinner for them. So I guess it makes up for it.

I am glad you are feeling better. Getting teeth cleaned is no fun.

Tink said...

Happy thanksgiving to you and your mom & dad!
Thanks for visiting my Tolkien TT.

Anonymous said...

I love these types of TTs! I had a very "large" list this week. :)