Canadian Thanksgiving Trivia — 50 Questions

The second Monday in October. Canadian Thanksgiving falls on the second Monday of October each year.

1879. Canadian Parliament declared November 6, 1879, as a national day of Thanksgiving.

Martin Frobisher in 1578. The English explorer held a Thanksgiving service in what is now Nunavut to give thanks for surviving the Northwest Passage voyage.

1957. Parliament fixed the date on January 31, 1957, with the official proclamation.

To avoid overlap with Remembrance Day and align with the harvest season. Earlier harvests in Canada's climate made October more appropriate.

'A Day of General Thanksgiving to Almighty God for the bountiful harvest with which Canada has been blessed.' This language remains in the 1957 proclamation.

Samuel de Champlain. Champlain and the Order of Good Cheer held feasts in New France in the early 1600s.

A dining society founded by Champlain in 1606. It was created to prevent scurvy and promote morale at Port Royal, Nova Scotia.

Nunavut (then part of the Northwest Territories). Frobisher's 1578 service was held on Baffin Island.

No province does — all observe the federal holiday. However, individual employers may vary; all provinces mark the second Monday in October.

Turkey. About 70% of Canadians eat turkey, though ham and other proteins are also common.

Butter tarts or tourtière. Some Canadian tables feature these French-Canadian specialties alongside turkey.

A French-Canadian meat pie. Traditionally made with pork, veal, or game, tourtière is a Quebec Thanksgiving staple.

Approximately 75-80%. Not all Canadians observe the holiday; it is less universally celebrated than in the U.S.

Action de grâce. The French name reflects the religious origins of the holiday.

April 15, 1872. It celebrated the Prince of Wales's recovery from illness, not the harvest.

Thanksgiving was often tied to military victories. In 1918, Thanksgiving celebrated the Armistice ending WWI.

Canada held Thanksgiving on November 28, 1918, to celebrate WWI's end. It merged gratitude for victory with harvest thanks.

Butterball Canada and Maple Leaf Foods. These companies dominate turkey and processed meat markets.

The three-day weekend including the second Monday in October. Many Canadians travel or visit family over this weekend.

No Canadian city has a parade comparable to Macy's. Canadian celebrations are more private and family-oriented.

Yes, the CFL plays Thanksgiving Day Classic games. The doubleheader has been a tradition since 1958.

It rotates annually. Unlike the NFL's fixed teams, the CFL schedules different matchups each year.

About $50-60 CAD for a family. Turkey prices and side dishes are generally less expensive than in the U.S.

Newfoundland and Labrador have unique harvest traditions. Jiggs' dinner (salt beef and vegetables) sometimes accompanies or replaces turkey.

A Newfoundland boiled dinner with salt beef. It includes cabbage, turnip, carrots, potatoes, and peas pudding.

Wild rice, bannock, and local game. Some families incorporate First Nations foods as part of reconciliation efforts.

Indigenous peoples held harvest festivals long before European arrival. The Haudenosaunee Thanksgiving Address is an ancient expression of gratitude.

A centuries-old recitation of gratitude to the natural world. Also called the 'Words Before All Else,' it opens and closes councils and ceremonies.

Quebec emphasizes French-Canadian cuisine; the West incorporates more local harvest foods. Regional variation is significant.

An Indigenous fry bread. Bannock appears at some multicultural Canadian Thanksgiving celebrations.

A common glaze and dessert ingredient. Maple-glazed turkey, carrots, and maple pecan pie are Canadian variations.

Cured pork loin rolled in cornmeal. Also called Canadian bacon, it sometimes appears at breakfast or brunch.

A coastal variation with lobster or scallops. Maritime provinces incorporate local seafood into Thanksgiving dishes.

Annual polls track Canadian preferences. Surveys consistently show turkey, mashed potatoes, and pumpkin pie as top choices.

Approximately 50%. Pumpkin pie is popular but less dominant than in the U.S., where apple and pecan also compete.

A prairie specialty using native berries. Saskatoon berries are native to western Canada and make excellent pies.

There is no major Thanksgiving hockey tradition. Unlike the CFL, the NHL does not schedule special Thanksgiving games.

Curricula increasingly include Indigenous perspectives. Modern Canadian education addresses both European and First Nations harvest traditions.

East Asian Canadians may celebrate Mid-Autumn Festival near Thanksgiving. Some families blend Chinese, Korean, and Canadian traditions.

Diwali sometimes falls near Canadian Thanksgiving. Indo-Canadian families may celebrate both holidays in October.

Simple, community-focused meals with traditional foods. Mennonite communities emphasize gratitude and sharing with those in need.

Ukrainian-Canadian families may include perogies and cabbage rolls. Multicultural tables blend Eastern European and Canadian foods.

Remote communities receive special food shipments. The Canadian government subsidizes turkey and produce transport to northern settlements.

Deployed troops receive special meals. The Canadian Forces ensure members have turkey and trimmings wherever they serve.

Smaller scale — less travel and less commercialization. Black Friday has crossed the border but is less dominant than in America.

Unrelated — Boxing Day is December 26. Canadians do not have a shopping holiday directly tied to Thanksgiving.

Stable, with growing multicultural influences. New Canadians gradually adopt and adapt the holiday to their own traditions.

A no-bake dessert from British Columbia. Nanaimo bars sometimes appear on Canadian Thanksgiving dessert tables.

It is a statutory holiday in most provinces and territories. Federal employees and many private-sector workers have the day off.