If you’re American and enjoy a good holiday dinner, the second weekend in October is a perfect time to visit Canada. That’s because Thanksgiving celebrations are happening nationwide, so you can enjoy turkey and stuffing not once, but twice–six weeks before American Thanksgiving. Score!

So what’s the difference between American and Canadian Thanksgiving? Many people outside Canada are surprised to hear that there is a difference at all–but indeed, there is.

Most of what I know about the U.S. celebration comes from American television and movies. However, having celebrated many Canadian Thanksgivings, I can share how it is observed across the country based on a very scientific survey of People I Know.

Here are three basic differences.

Canadian Thanksgiving Is in October (and It’s Not About Pilgrims)

That’s right: Canadian Thanksgiving falls on the second Monday in October—October 13 this year—the same day as American Columbus Day. American Thanksgiving is celebrated on the fourth Thursday in November.

Why the difference? Canada is farther north, and the harvest arrives earlier, so Thanksgiving is celebrated earlier as well.

In Feasting and Fasting: Canada’s Heritage Celebrations (Dundurn), Dorothy Duncan explains that Canadians held many different Thanksgiving celebrations before Parliament officially chose the date in 1957. Prior to European settlement, First Nations peoples celebrated their crops. Later, Thanksgiving was celebrated for events ranging from explorer Martin Frobisher’s successful Northwest Passage crossing in 1578 to war victories and royal recoveries, like that of the Prince of Wales (later King Edward VII) from illness in 1872.

Unlike American Thanksgiving, Canadian Thanksgiving history does not involve pilgrims or the Mayflower. Both holidays, however, are a chance to give thanks for blessings, celebrate nature’s bounty, and enjoy a big meal with family and friends.

Though officially observed on Monday, Canadian Thanksgiving celebrations often take place throughout the weekend. The main meal is just as likely to happen on Sunday as it is on Monday.

Canadian Thanksgiving Isn’t a Major Shopping Frenzy

In the U.S., Black Friday (the day after Thanksgiving) is legendary: news reports show shoppers heading straight from the dinner table to the mall.

That doesn’t happen in Canada. The holiday Monday makes it a long weekend for many, but shopping is not central to the celebration. Many stores operate on limited hours during the Thanksgiving weekend.

That said, there are some promotions and sales during Thanksgiving weekend in Canada. (Whistler Blackcomb’s Turkey Sale, offering deals on ski and snowboard equipment, is one example.)

Canada’s biggest shopping day remains Boxing Day—December 26, the day after Christmas—when line-ups outside stores are common.

Canadian Thanksgiving Feels More Relaxed Than American Thanksgiving

American Thanksgiving is almost as significant as Christmas. Many people fly across the country to visit family, and according to U.S. Bureau of Transport statistics, long-distance trips increase by 54 percent over the six-day Thanksgiving period, compared with a 23 percent increase over Christmas/New Year.

Movies like Planes, Trains, and Automobiles reinforce the perception that Americans go to great lengths to celebrate with extended family.

In Canada, people also travel to visit loved ones over Thanksgiving weekend. However, fewer Canadians take long-distance trips compared to the holiday season at the end of December, when extended visits are more common.

Canadians enjoy making the most of the long weekend. Many spend time outdoors hiking, visiting farmers markets, strolling along lakes or parks, or enjoying meals with friends and family.

How do you celebrate Thanksgiving across Canada? Feel free to leave a comment below.

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