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For reasons of history and politics, we Canadians celebrate Thanksgiving nearly two months earlier than our American friends, but that wasn't always the case, and Columbus Day also has its observational ambiguities.
From 1879 to 1898, the Canadian Thanksgiving was observed on Nov. 6, and in other years as late as Dec. 6. Occasionally, it even coincided with American Thanksgiving, celebrated on the last Thursday of November since the 1870s.
A Canadian autumn harvest festival has been traced as far back as a feast held by the British explorer Martin Frobisher in what is now Newfoundland in 1578. It's also probable that American Uinted Empire Loyalists who emigrated to Canada after American independence brought with them many of their American Thanksgiving traditions. Thanksgiving celebrations had been observed in English-speaking areas of British North America in the eighteenth century, especially in Nova Scotia, but the holiday gained a lot of cultural tractio with the arrival of Loyalists fleeing the American Revolution, and thereafter gradually became entrenched in English Canadian society. It is still little-celebrated in French-speaking Quebec, but the official holiday also applies there. As in America, Thanksgiving dinner in Canada typically includes turkey, mashed potatoes, and cranberry sauce.
In 1899 Canadian Thanksgiving was fixed on a Thursday in October, then in 1907. it was moved to a Monday in October, the exact date being appointed annually by proclamation. From 1921 to 1930, Canadian Thanksgiving was observed on November 11, Armistice Day, commemorating the end of World War I. In 1931, it was moved again to the second Monday of October, and finally, on Jan. 31, 1957 an act of Parliament permanently fixed Canadian Thanksgiving to second Monday in October: "A Day of General Thanksgiving to Almighty God for the bountiful harvest with which Canada has been blessed ..."
Columbus Day Nominally celebrates the anniversary of Christopher Columbus' arrival in the Americas on October 12, 1492. Reportedly, there were observances commemorating Columbus' arrival as early as 1792, and Italian citizens of New York City had organized a celebration on October 12, 1866, but it was first called Columbus Day In 1869 San Francisco Italians celebrated on October 12. The holiday attained national status when President Benjamin Harrison proclaimed it to mark the 400th anniversary of Columbus' voyage in 1892, made a commemorative proclamation.
Colorado became the first state to observe a Columbus Day in 1905, and several other states followed suit. In 1937, responding to lobbying by the Knights of Columbus (a Roman Catholic service organization), President Franklin D. Roosevelt proclaimed every October 12 as Columbus Day, and in 1971 Congress declared Columbus Day a federal public holiday and the date was moved to the second Monday in October, which means that Americans and Canadians both have a holiday on that day, although celebrating different things.
However, observance of Columbus Day is not uniform across the United States. While it is generally observed by schools, some banks, the bond market, the U.S. Postal Service, federal offices, and most state government offices, many businesses and the stock exchanges remain open.
Colorado was the first state to observe Columbus Day in 1905. Over 30 more years elapsed before President Roosevelt deemed that “Columbus Day” would be a federal holiday held on the twelve of October. It was during President Nixon’s presidency in 1971 that the celebration was changed to be observed on the second Monday in October.
There are state and locka exceptions to the celebration; Berkeley, California celebrates Columbus Day as “Peoples Day”, Hawaii celebrates “Discoverers Day”, Nevada deosn't celebrate Columbus Day as a legal holiday at all, but rather is a day of observance with schools and most offices and businesses remaining open, and South Dakota celebrates “Native American Day”. Minnesota doesn't celebrate Columbus Day either although some institutions In the state do.
Whatever you call the day, have a great one!
Charles W. Moore
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