Happy Thanksgiving

It's Thanksgiving Day today in Canada and Columbus Day for our American cousins.

A lot of people wonder why Thanksgiving Day in Canada is celebrated so much earlier than in the United States.

The first Thanksgiving Day after Canadian Confederation was observed as a civic holiday on April 5, 1872, to celebrate the recovery of the Prince of Wales (later King Edward VII) from a serious illness.

Starting in 1879 Thanksgiving Day was observed every year, but the date was initially a Thursday in November. 

The date of celebration changed several times until, in 1957, it was officially declared to be the second Monday in October. 

The theme of the Thanksgiving holiday also changed each year to reflect an important event to be thankful for. In its early years it was for an abundant harvest and occasionally for a special anniversary.

After World War I, an amendment to the Armistice Day Act established that Armistice Day and Thanksgiving would both be celebrated on the Monday of the week in which November 11 occurred, starting in 1921.

Ten years later, in 1931, the two days became separate holidays, and Armistice Day was renamed Remembrance Day. From 1931 to 1957, the date was set by proclamation, generally falling on the second Monday in October, except for 1935, when it was moved due to a general election.

In 1957, Thanksgiving was permanently set to be the second Monday in October.

Happy Thanksgiving Day to all and all the best to each and every one who stops by the blog today.

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