Canadians celebrate Thanksgiving on the second Monday in October each year. In 2025, Thanksgiving in Canada falls on Monday, October 13.

Date Every Year

• Thanksgiving is always the second Monday in October.
• This is about six weeks earlier than Thanksgiving in the United States, which occurs in late November.

• The date was officially set in 1957 by the Canadian Parliament to coincide with the end of the harvest season.

Traditions and Observance

• Celebrations commonly involve sharing a meal with family, featuring dishes like turkey, stuffing, and pumpkin pie.

• While most Canadians mark the holiday on Monday, many families opt to gather and dine on the preceding Sunday for convenience.

• Thanksgiving is a statutory holiday in most Canadian provinces, though its status as an official day off may vary in Atlantic provinces.

Reason for October Celebration

• The earlier celebration is tied to Canada’s shorter growing season and earlier harvest compared to the United States.

• Thanksgiving in Canada originated as a harvest festival and evolved into a time to give thanks for abundance and family.