ClassX Video Lessons What’s the difference between American and Canadian Thanksgiving? – Big Questions – (Ep. 212)
Hi there! Today, we’re going to explore a fun question: What’s the difference between American and Canadian Thanksgiving? Even though both holidays are called Thanksgiving, they celebrate different things and happen at different times. Let’s dive in and learn more!
Canadian Thanksgiving has a unique history. It all started way back in 1578 when an Englishman named Sir Martin Frobisher and his crew arrived in Newfoundland, Canada. They were trying to find a new route to Asia but ended up in Canada instead. To celebrate their safe arrival, they held a feast, which is considered the first Thanksgiving in North America. This celebration was inspired by European harvest festivals.
Canadians celebrate Thanksgiving on the second Monday of October. This date has been official since 1957. Interestingly, it falls on the same day as Columbus Day in the United States. Canadian Thanksgiving is mostly about celebrating the harvest, which is why it’s earlier in the year. By November, it’s usually too cold in Canada, and the harvest is long over!
American Thanksgiving is a bit different. It remembers the Pilgrim Harvest Festival of 1621, which happened in Massachusetts. This holiday is celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November. Like Canadian Thanksgiving, it also has roots in European harvest festivals.
Both countries enjoy a big meal on Thanksgiving, often featuring turkey. However, in Canada, some families might choose chicken, ham, or other dishes instead. The Canadian Thanksgiving meal is more about celebrating the harvest, while in the U.S., it’s more about remembering the Pilgrims.
Even the pumpkin pie recipes are different! Canadian pumpkin pie usually has more spices like cloves, ginger, nutmeg, and cinnamon, while American pumpkin pie tends to be sweeter.
In Canada, Thanksgiving isn’t celebrated everywhere. In some provinces, it’s considered optional. In the U.S., Thanksgiving is a national holiday, and almost everyone celebrates it.
Both countries love football on Thanksgiving! In Canada, the Canadian Football League hosts a Thanksgiving Day classic with two football games. In the U.S., there are several football games on Thanksgiving Day as well.
Besides turkey, both Canadian and American Thanksgiving meals often include cranberries, mashed potatoes, and stuffing. Yum!
Thanks for learning about Thanksgiving with us! Whether you’re in Canada or the U.S., we hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving filled with delicious food and fun times with family and friends. We’re thankful for you!
Research the history of both American and Canadian Thanksgiving. Create a timeline that highlights key events and differences between the two holidays. Use drawings or printed images to make your timeline visually appealing.
Find a recipe for a traditional Canadian Thanksgiving dish and an American Thanksgiving dish. Compare the ingredients and cooking methods. You can even try making one of the dishes at home with your family!
Work in small groups to create a presentation about Thanksgiving traditions in Canada and the U.S. Include information about food, activities, and how different regions celebrate. Present your findings to the class.
Create a piece of art that represents what Thanksgiving means to you. This could be a drawing, painting, or collage. Think about the themes of gratitude, harvest, and family as you create your artwork.
Participate in a friendly debate about which Thanksgiving is better: Canadian or American. Use facts from your research to support your arguments. Remember to listen respectfully to your classmates’ points of view.
Sure! Here’s a sanitized version of the transcript:
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Hi, I’m Craig, and this is Mental Floss on YouTube. Today, I’m going to answer Keegan T’s big question: What’s the difference between American and Canadian Thanksgiving? The two holidays actually celebrate different things, so we’re going to talk about them today in honor of American Thanksgiving, which is coming up, while Canadian Thanksgiving has already happened.
Let’s get started! Canadian Thanksgiving celebrates an event that occurred about 40 years before the Pilgrims arrived in Massachusetts. In 1578, an Englishman named Sir Martin Frobisher arrived with his crew in Newfoundland. They were hoping to make it across the Northwest Passage but only made it to Canada. It’s said that Frobisher himself held the first-ever North American Thanksgiving, inspired by European harvest festivals.
Canadians celebrate their Thanksgiving earlier than Americans, on the second Monday of October, which has been the official date since 1957. This coincidentally falls on the same day that Americans celebrate Columbus Day.
American Thanksgiving commemorates the Pilgrim Harvest Festival that occurred in 1621. Here, Thanksgiving is on the fourth Thursday of November and also draws inspiration from European harvest festivals.
The traditional Canadian Thanksgiving meal is turkey, similar to the U.S., but it’s a less strictly followed tradition. Many families opt for chicken, ham, or other dishes. Canadian Thanksgiving is largely a celebration of the harvest rather than Frobisher and his crew, which is probably why it’s celebrated earlier. By November in Canada, the harvest is definitely over, and there’s often snow on the ground. In the U.S., the emphasis is on the Pilgrims.
Even the Canadian and American pumpkin pie recipes are different. In Canada, the pie generally contains more spices like cloves, ginger, nutmeg, and cinnamon. The traditional American pumpkin pie tends to be a bit sweeter.
In certain parts of Canada, celebrating Thanksgiving is not a given; in some provinces, the holiday is considered optional. In the U.S., Thanksgiving is an official national holiday, and it’s widely celebrated.
The two holidays do share some similarities. For instance, the Canadian Football League holds an annual Thanksgiving Day classic with two back-to-back football games, while in the U.S., there are multiple football games on Thanksgiving as well. In addition to turkey, both countries’ meals usually feature cranberries, mashed potatoes, and stuffing.
Thanks for watching this Mental Floss video! If you have a big question of your own that you’d like answered, leave it in the comments below. Americans, I hope you have a great Thanksgiving, and Canadians, I hope you had a great one. I’m thankful for all of you. See you next week!
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This version removes any inappropriate or confusing content while maintaining the essence of the original transcript.
Thanksgiving – A holiday celebrated to give thanks for the harvest and blessings of the past year. – Every year, families gather to celebrate Thanksgiving and enjoy a special meal together.
Canadian – Relating to Canada or its people. – The Canadian provinces each have their own unique history and culture.
American – Relating to the United States or its people. – The American Revolution was a significant event in history that led to the country’s independence.
Harvest – The process or period of gathering crops. – During the harvest season, farmers work hard to collect the crops they have grown.
Festival – A special event or celebration, often with music, dancing, and food. – The town held a festival to celebrate the end of the harvest with music and dancing.
Provinces – Regions or areas within a country, especially in Canada. – Canada is made up of ten provinces, each with its own government.
Meal – An occasion when food is eaten, or the food that is eaten on such an occasion. – The Thanksgiving meal usually includes turkey, stuffing, and pumpkin pie.
Football – A popular team sport played with an oval ball on a field, especially in the United States. – Watching football games is a common tradition during Thanksgiving in America.
Recipes – Instructions for preparing a particular dish, including a list of the ingredients required. – Families often share their favorite recipes for Thanksgiving dishes like cranberry sauce and mashed potatoes.
Traditions – Customs or beliefs passed down from generation to generation. – One of the traditions of Thanksgiving is to express gratitude for the good things in life.
