Basically Canada and the United States share many of the same traditions as far as Thanksgiving Day. The history is a little different though with Canada's Thanksgiving beginning in 1578, while the USA held their first celebration in 1621. In both countries one day during autumn is set aside to celebrate the harvest, but the dates differ with Canada being October and the USA, November.
 

First Tradition

When the first Europeans arrived in North America they brought with them traditions from their homelands. Farmers in Europe held celebrations after their harvest was completed to give thanks for their abundant crops and good fortunes. Farm workers filled a curved goat's horn with fruit and grain which was called a cornucopia or as we know it horn of plenty. Upon their arrival in Canada they continued these celebrations in the autumn after harvest time.

Second Tradition

The English navigator Martin Frobisher landed in what is now known as Newfoundland in 1578. He had set sail nearly two years previously in search of a northern passage, which would lead, to the Orient. Thankful that their long voyage was over, a celebration of thanks was held which is often referred to as the first formal North American Thanksgiving. Martin Frobisher was later knighted with an inlet in northern Canada being named after him which is known as Frobisher Bay. When other settlers arrived they continued with celebrations which were held every year in the autumn to give thanks.

Third Tradition

The third tradition began in 1621, in what is now known as the United States, when the Pilgrims celebrated their first harvest after a long voyage and hard winter in the New World. The Pilgrims were English colonists who established a permanent settlement in New England. This settlement is now known as Plymouth Massachusetts. The tradition of Thanksgiving began in Nova Scotia during the 1750s, thanks to American settlers who had moved there from the south.

During this time French settlers, travelling with Samuel de Champlain arrived in Canada, holding large feasts of thanks. They also formed "The Order of Good Cheer", and invited their Indian neighbours to share in their food and celebrations of thanks.

At the end of the Seven-Year's War in 1763, the citizens of Halifax held a special day of Thanksgiving. Americans who remained faithful to England were known as Loyalists. These Loyalists moved to Canada during the American Revolution, which helped to spread the Thanksgiving celebrations to other parts of the country. Settlers from Great Britain also carried on the tradition of a harvest celebration, which was held in their churches every autumn.

Parliament declared November 6th as Thanksgiving Day in 1879. It should be noted that over the years there were many dates used for Thanksgiving with the 3rd Monday in October being the most popular. After the First World War, both Armistice Day and Thanksgiving were celebrated on November 11th. It was 10 years later, in 1931 that the two days became separate holidays with Armistice Day being renamed as Remembrance Day. Finally on January 31, 1957, Parliament proclaimed the 2nd Monday in October as the day set aside for Thanksgiving.

The first thanksgiving celebration was held on Dec 4, 1619 by a group of 38 English settlers who arrived at Berkeley Plantation, on the James River near what is now called Charles City, Virginia. The only other inhabitants living here were Native Americans. This first celebration consisted of a religious ceremony dedicated solely to God. The group's mandate was to celebrate the date of their arrival each year by giving praise and thanks to God.

The Pilgrim's were the first to celebrate what is known as Thanksgiving after a devastating first year in what was then known as New England. Approximately half of the pilgrims died during that first winter and it is only thanks to the Indians that they all did not die. After their harvest the following year in 1621, they discovered that the fruits of their labour were plentiful. They had plenty of corn; fruits and vegetables as well as fish packed in salt and meat smoke cured over fires to last through the coming winter. Things were peaceful between themselves and their Indian neighbours; everything seemed to be working out for them. Governor, William Bradford, proclaimed a day of thanksgiving and prayer to be shared by all colonists and Native Americans. The Governor invited the Indian Chief Massasoit and ninety of his braves to join in their celebrations. This festival was to last for three days. In 1623, a drought was experienced and during a day of fasting a prayer, the rain finally came turning the day into one of thanksgiving.

After that first year there were no more thanksgiving celebrations held until 1676. On June 20, 1676, the governing council of Charlestown, Massachusetts, instructed Edward Rawson, the clerk, to proclaim June 29 as a day of thanksgiving. See Proclamation.

This tradition of celebrating thanksgiving after the harvest continued for years to come. In the late 1770's, during the American Revolution, the Continental Congress suggested a Thanksgiving Day. George Washington, the first President of the United States proclaimed Thanksgiving Day as November 26, 1789. Proclamation by George Washington. When Thomas Jefferson became President he sneered at the thought of a day set aside for thanksgiving.

It is due to the relentless efforts of Sarah Josepha Hale, a magazine editor, that thanksgiving is what we know it to be today. It took Sarah Hale 40 years of writing editorials in her Boston Ladies' Magazine and in Godey's Lady's Book, for a Thanksgiving Day to become a reality.

The State of New York adopted Thanksgiving Day as an annual custom in 1817. Virginia was the first Southern State to adopt the custom of Thanksgiving, in 1855. By the mid 19th century, many of the other States were also celebrating this day. President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed the last Thursday in November as a day of thanksgiving and praise to our beneficent Father, on the urging of Mrs. Sarah J. Hale, in 1863.

In 1939, President Franklin D. Roosevelt change the date of thanksgiving to the 3rd Thursday in November, one week earlier than when it had been observed. In 1941, Congress ruled that the 4th Thursday of November would be observed as Thanksgiving Day. This would be a federal public holiday proclaimed by the President each year.
 

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