Sunday 13 October 2024

Happy Thanksgiving!

This weekend is Thanksgiving in Canada.
Officially declared a national holiday in 1879 and celebrated on November 6th.
It was changed to the second Monday in October after the two World Wars so as not to coincide with Remembrance Day on November 11th..

Here is a great article from Canada History about Canadian Thanksgiving.

Enjoy your turkey!
The Victorian Society of Alberta

 The History of Thanksgiving in Canada

Where did the tradition come from?

Written by Alison Nagy — Posted October 4, 2018

 

Canadians celebrate Thanksgiving Day the second Monday of October.
Library and Archives Canada / e010933381-v8

Thanksgiving weekend. For many, this long weekend really kicks off the autumn season. People across the country will spend it raking leaves, harvesting, shutting down the family cabin, and hopefully eating a delicious meal surrounded by friends and family. But where did this tradition come from?

In 1621, the pilgrims at Plymouth Plantation, Massachusetts, held what is thought to be the first Thanksgiving in North America, giving thanks for the end to a drought and a bountiful harvest. Without the help of the Wampanoag, who shared planting, hunting, and fishing knowledge and techniques, the pilgrims would have died. Some records say the first official Thanksgiving likely predates this event by around fourteen years.

But let’s try again — we’re thinking of our neighbours to the south.

Believe it or not, Thanksgiving in Canada, or at least the land that would become Canada, has its own history, separate from our American counterparts.

Traditions of giving thanks long predate the arrival of European settlers in North America. First Nations across Turtle Island have traditions of thanksgiving for surviving winter and for receiving crops and game as a reward for their hard work. These traditions may include feasting, prayer, dance, potlatch, and other ceremonies, depending on the peoples giving thanks.

When it comes to European thanksgivings in Canada, we have a few tales to tell.


As the story goes, in 1578, English explorer Martin Frobisher and his crew gave thanks and communion was observed, either on land at Frobisher Bay, in present day Nunavut, or onboard a ship anchored there. The explorers dined on salt beef, biscuits, and mushy peas and gave thanks through Communion for their safe arrival in then Newfoundland. This is now accepted as the first “Canadian” Thanksgiving, forty-three years before the first “American” Thanksgiving.

Forty-eight years later on November 14, 1606, inhabitants of New France under Samuel de Champlain held huge feasts of thanksgiving between local Mi’kmaq and the French. Though not known at the time by the settlers, cranberries, rich in vitamin C, are credited with helping avoid scurvy. The neighbouring Mi’kmaq likely introduced the French to cranberries, or as they called them, petites pommes rouges (little red apples).

Champlain’s feasts were more than an annual affair. To prevent the scurvy epidemic that had decimated the settlement at Île Sainte-Croix in past winters, the Ordre de Bon Temps (Order of Good Cheer) was founded, offering festive meals every few weeks. Medical treatises recommended better nutrition (more food) and entertainment to combat scurvy.

However, despite this history of uniquely Canadian thanksgivings, our modern concepts of Thanksgiving were influenced by our American neighbours. Foods that are associated with a “traditional” Thanksgiving, such as North American turkey, squash, and pumpkin, were introduced to Nova Scotians in the 1750s.  After the American War of Independence, the arrival of the United Empire Loyalists ensured the continuation of spreading this “traditional” fare to other parts of the country.

Today Canadian Thanksgiving is held on the second Monday of October every year, or at least it has been since Canadian Parliament declared it so on January 31, 1957. Before this, Thanksgiving in Canada had been held sporadically, often coinciding with other major events and anniversaries.

In 1879, Thanksgiving was officially declared a national holiday to be held on November 6th.

The most recent date change to the second Monday in October was largely a result of the first and second world wars, which we officially remember each year on November 11, Remembrance Day. This was so that the two holidays would not fall on the same weekend.

As Thanksgiving in Canada has historically been celebrated on several different dates, it is fitting that, even though it is observed on Monday, families are equally as likely to celebrate on Saturday or Sunday.

Most Canadians embraced the change of date to October, since that period better coincides with the actual completion of harvest in much of the country.

Parliament officially declares Thanksgiving as “a day of general thanksgiving to almighty God for the bountiful harvest with which Canada has been blessed.” While this mandate for Thanksgiving may not be observed by all Canadians in its entirety, the ideas of being thankful, of spending time with family, and sharing a delicious meal still remain.

 
 
 

Sunday 1 September 2024

Happy 119th Birthday Alberta

 

September 1, 1905 Alberta and Saskatchewan become provinces. 

Happy 119th birthday!



Alberta is the only province in Canada named after a princess, Princess Louise Caroline Alberta, the 4th daughter of Queen Victoria.

Thanks for reading.

Victorian Society of Alberta

Friday 23 August 2024

August Fashion Friday

This month we delve into the "nitty gritty" of keeping all those fancy, and not so fancy, clothes clean.

This video by Bernadette Banner on YouTube has some interesting info.

Enjoy
The Victorian Society of Alberta

 

Friday 2 August 2024

Come and see us at Days of Yore!

This long weekend we will be at the fabulous Days of Yore in Didsbury Alberta!

A massive event with historical re-enactor groups from all across Alberta.
Covering over a thousand years of history from the Viking age to WWII.

Each group has an historical camp setup and there are lots of demonstrations in the camps and on the field.
A schedule of the events is here.

The Victorian Society of Alberta encampment is the second largest of all the groups after the Vikings.

Pictures from last year's event are here.

Entrance fee is $10.00 per person, kids 6 and under are free.

The event is open to the public from 11:00 am to 5:00 pm both Saturday and Sunday.

Your editor will also have his three station working Telegraph network running and this year the network is part of the Alberta MTC Line project which will eventually connect 26 museums in Western Canada!

Come by and say Hi!

Enjoy the long weekend.
The Victorian Society of Alberta

Wednesday 24 July 2024

Elegance on the way to the Regatta

This video from Yesterday Today on FB shows people getting off the train at the Henley Regatta in July of 1898.

A wonderful glimpse into the Upper Crust on their way to a see and be seen event!

Enjoy
The Victorian Society of Alberta



Friday 19 July 2024

July Fashion Friday

This month we have a fascinating video about Victorian Corsetry.
From Abby Cox on YouTube.

Enjoy

The Victorian Society of Alberta