Canadian Thanksgiving vs. American Thanksgiving: What Makes Them Different?

2025-11-13
All articles
World Culture
Tempo di lettura: 2 min

Every fall, families in Canada and the United States gather to share meals, gratitude, and togetherness. But did you know that the Canadian and American Thanksgiving holidays are celebrated at different times of year — and with different traditions? Whether you’re Canadian, American, or simply curious, here’s everything you need to know about what sets these two holidays apart.

When are they celebrated?

  • Canadian Thanksgiving takes place on the second Monday in October.
  • American Thanksgiving is celebrated on the fourth Thursday in November.

The earlier Canadian date reflects its roots as a harvest festival, while the American holiday is tied to the 1621 feast shared by Pilgrims and the Wampanoag people.

Food traditions: Same turkey, different flavors

Both holidays center around big family feasts, but there are some tasty differences:

  • Canadians often serve roast turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, and pumpkin pie — similar to their southern neighbors — but also include regional dishes like butter tarts or Nanaimo bars.
  • Americans enjoy turkey too, but with sides like sweet potato casserole, cranberry sauce, and cornbread.

How they’re celebrated

  • Canada: A long weekend often spent outdoors, giving thanks, and enjoying the fall harvest.
  • United States: A bigger emphasis on parades (like the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade) and the start of the holiday shopping season with Black Friday.

How Canadians and Americans abroad celebrate

From London to Sydney, expats recreate Thanksgiving meals with friends, share recipes online, and often send support back home to help loved ones cover seasonal costs.

Staying connected: Send money across borders, simply and securely

Whether you’re helping family with groceries, sending a festive gift, or covering travel costs, Paysend makes it easy to send money directly to bank accounts, cards, or wallets in both Canada and the U.S. With low fees, fast delivery, and no need for the recipient to set up an account, it’s the easiest way to share gratitude across borders.

Wishing you a Happy Thanksgiving — wherever you celebrate

No matter which Thanksgiving you observe, the heart of the holiday is gratitude and togetherness. If you’re sending love (and support) home this season, do it the simple, secure way — with Paysend.


SEND MONEY TO CANADA OR THE U.S.
 

Ultimi post

Credit card to bank transfer: how it works, costs and speed
2026-09-01
Credit card to bank transfer: how it works, costs and speed

Here's the short answer: yes, you can use a credit card to get money into someone's bank account abroad. "Credit card to bank transfer" means exactly that — you fund the transfer with your credit card, and your recipient receives it in their bank account. Or on their card, in their wallet, or as cash to collect, depending on where they are.

The card and the bank account do different jobs. Your card pays for the transfer. A provider like Paysend then pays the money out through local systems on the other end. It's one flow, and it takes about a minute in the app.

One thing worth knowing before you start: a credit card is usually the most expensive way to fund a transfer. Some issuers treat it as a cash advance, and credit tends to carry higher payment fees than debit. You'll always see the full cost, exchange rate included, before you confirm anything. What follows is: the ways your money can arrive, what each one costs, how fast it gets there, and the cheaper routes worth checking first.

All articles
Money Transfer Guides
2026-08-14
Conosci Pavel Štich: come aiuta i lettori cechi e slovacchi a inviare denaro a casa

Ogni mese, migliaia di persone che lavorano nella Repubblica Ceca inviano una parte del proprio stipendio a casa; molti di loro sono cittadini ucraini che sostengono le proprie famiglie dall'altra parte del confine. E i metodi tradizionali rendono più complicato ciò che dovrebbe essere semplice: bonifici bancari che richiedono IBAN e codici SWIFT, commissioni che diventano visibili solo dopo l'invio del denaro e giorni di attesa mentre a casa qualcuno fa affidamento su quel trasferimento.

Pavel Štich aiuta da anni i suoi lettori a risolvere proprio questo problema. È cofondatore e caporedattore finanziario di Moneyo.cz, una piattaforma finanziaria ceca indipendente che mette a confronto servizi di trasferimento di denaro, broker e investimenti alternativi, oltre a essere Ambasciatore Paysend. Questo significa che prova personalmente ciò che consiglia, lo spiega in modo semplice e offre ai suoi lettori vantaggi esclusivi. Gli abbiamo chiesto come è nato Moneyo, chi sono i suoi lettori e perché ha scelto Paysend.

All articles