We've finally arrived at Thanksgiving weekend! Many people will be spending the weekend visiting with friends and family, enjoying a big meal, and counting our blessings. Whatever your family tradition (or if you're looking to start a new one) Forsythe Family Farms 2009 Inc will take care of all your fruit and vegetable needs for hosting a fun and filling holiday meal! This weekend is also the kick off the Harvest Festival with fun activities happening every weekend in October.
Thanksgiving Day is always celebrated on the second Monday of October. I just learned though, that this has only been a tradition since 1957. From the end of WWI until 1930, both Armistice Day and Thanksgiving Day were celebrated on the Monday nearest Nov. 11. In 1931, Armistice Day was renamed Remembrance Day and Thanksgiving was moved to a Monday in October.
In 1957, the second Monday in October became the official day for the holiday in Canada.
Traditionally, the first Thanksgiving is traced back to 1621 at Plymouth in present-day Massachusetts. The newly arrived Pilgrims and the Wampanoag Indians gathered at Plymouth for an autumn harvest celebration. This event is regarded as America’s “first Thanksgiving.” As President of the United States, George Washington proclaimed the first nationwide thanksgiving celebration in America marking November 26, 1789, "as a day of public thanksgiving and prayer to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favours of Almighty God".
In 1989, the President of the USA decided to "pardon" a turkey. It was then sent to safely live out the rest of it's days on farm. This yearly tradition continues to be practiced today!
The first Canadian Thanksgiving is often traced back to 1578 when explorer Martin Frobisher held a Thanksgiving celebration not for harvest, but in gratitude for surviving the long journey from England. He was searcing for a Northern passage to the Pacific Ocean, and held his celebration on Baffin Island.
The origins of Canadian Thanksgiving are also sometimes traced to the early 17th century, and the French settlers who came to New France with explorer Samuel de Champlain, who held festivals to celebrate their successful harvests.
As settlers arrived in Canada from New England, late autumn Thanksgiving celebrations became commonplace. Most of the US aspects of Thanksgiving (such as the turkey), were incorporated when Loyalists began to flee from the United States during the American Revolution and settled in Canada.
You don't have to only celebrate on Monday - Harvest Festival runs every weekend in October!
Enjoy a wagon ride down Fairy Tale Lane and a walk through the wooded trails, take part in themed quests that will have you exploring all over the farm, pick a pumpkin, visit the animals, and so much more!
Check the website for more Harvest Festival special events: http://forsythefamilyfarms.com/harvest-festival/
Forsythe Family Farms 2009 Inc is Open Thanksgiving Monday
Stop in 9:30am - 5:50pm
On the holiday Monday afternoon enjoy the live music of Don and Marion of the Marion Drexler band!