Who Had the First Thanksgiving? Canada or the USA? 🦃🍁

Ah, Thanksgiving—a time for food comas, family gatherings, and that one relative who brings up awkward conversations at the dinner table (you know the one). But before we stuff ourselves with turkey, let’s settle a hot debate: Who actually celebrated Thanksgiving first? Was it everybody’s friendly neighbors to the north in Canada or the good ol’ U.S. of A.?

Spoiler Alert: Canada got there first! Yup, before people in the United States were even carving up their turkeys, Canadians were celebrating their own version of Thanksgiving. The first-ever Canadian Thanksgiving happened in 1578 when English explorer Martin Frobisher and his crew gave thanks for surviving their dangerous journey to the Arctic. Meanwhile, the United States didn’t get in on the action until 1621, when the Pilgrims and Native Americans had a feast in Plymouth, Massachusetts. So technically, the Canadians win this round.

That said, the two holidays are pretty different. While Canadians tend to celebrate in October (because who wants to be thankful in freezing November?), the États-unions (that’s right, États-uniens—more on that in a sec!) do it up big at the end of November, usually with football, parades, and the looming threat of Black Friday shopping.

Quick Side Rant

Okay, this might just be a personal pet peeve, but can we talk about the term “Americans”? The whole continent is America, right? There are so many Americans out there—North Americans, South Americans, Central Americans—but for some reason, we all default to calling people from the United States “Americans” like we’ve claimed the entire Western Hemisphere for ourselves. I mean, come on, the French have it figured out. They use the term États-uniens, which just makes so much more sense. But, hey, here we are. Just had to get that off my chest. 😂

What About the Tunes?

Now, let’s talk about what really matters—Thanksgiving music! You might think there isn’t much out there compared to Christmas, but that’s just not true. People definitely crank up some tunes during this holiday, even if it’s not Jingle Bells on repeat. 🎶

For the Canadian Crowd

They’re usually listening to easygoing, feel-good vibes to pair with their pumpkin pie and maple syrup (obviously). Think folk, soft rock, or even a bit of jazz to keep things cozy. Artists like Gordon Lightfoot or Joni Mitchell are favorites up north for a reason. Plus, with Thanksgiving falling so close to Halloween, some Canadian stations are still playing spooky tunes—because why not keep things creepy?

Radio recommendations

• Listen to Gordon Lightfoot on Streema.com
• Listen to Joni Mitchell on Streema.com

In the États-uniens House

Thanksgiving music often falls into two categories: nostalgic and festive. You might catch some country music like Johnny Cash or more modern artists like Carrie Underwood to set the mood. A little Ray Charles or Nat King Cole might be playing in the background if you’re more into classics. And let’s not forget, Thanksgiving pretty much kicks off the holiday season, so Mariah Carey could start making her annual appearance as well!

Radio recommendations

• Listen to Johnny Cash on Streema.com
• Listen to Carrie Underwood on Streema.com
• Listen to Ray Charles on Streema.com
• Listen to Nat King Cole on Streema.com
• Listen to Mariah Carey on Streema.com

But honestly, any Thanksgiving playlist is about whatever makes you feel warm, full, and grateful—so long as no one sneaks Twinkle Twinkle Little B*tch into the mix!

So now that you know the history, sit back, enjoy some turkey, and maybe throw on a little Gordon Lightfoot or Johnny Cash to keep the good vibes rolling. Just don’t let anyone call États-uniens “Americans” at your table—unless you want to start a whole other debate. 😂 Happy Thanksgiving!