November 1st, 2019
Dear Travel Diary,
During my trip to Canada in October, I had the pleasure of celebrating Thanksgiving, and I loved every moment of it!
I loved how the Canadians celebrated, how they gave thanks, the community they created, and how that community included me!
Thanksgiving in Canada is always the second Monday in October, which is known as Columbus Day in America. But I’ve noticed that the Thanksgiving greetings and festivities start way before Thanksgiving day.
While I was in Canada, there were: big feasts, warm wishes, and family gatherings long before Monday. And I found joy in it all!
I loved the idea of reuniting with your family for more than one day. Eating a Thanksgiving-style feast, whether catered or cooked at home, all to give thanks to God for the blessings and harvest they’ve received the year prior.
For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them. -Matthew 18:20
On Thanksgiving day, I spent a large amount of my morning at the Enigma Restaurant, eating good food and in the company of amazing people from all walks of life. It was really a heartwarming day! Seeing all of the friends and family that joined together for delicious food and Thanksgiving was really something!
I loved every moment of my Thanksgiving in Canada. Even though I wasn’t surrounded by my immediate family and friends, I felt at home because I was surrounded by the new friends and family I made in Toronto.
Did you know that Thanksgiving in Canada actually pre-dates the American Thanksgiving? Yes, indeedy!
In 1838, Lower Canada used Thanksgiving to celebrate the end of the Lower Canada Rebellion. In 1957, Parliament fixed Thanksgiving as the second Monday in October. The theme of the Thanksgiving holiday also changed each year to reflect an important event to be thankful for.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thanksgiving_(Canada)
Then on January 31, 1957, the Governor General of Canada Vincent Massey issued a proclamation stating: “A Day of General Thanksgiving to Almighty God for the bountiful harvest with which Canada has been blessed – to be observed on the second Monday in October.”
Ashley Travels The Globe 