Back again is a long-lost feature, the Tale of the Tape. This edition examines two of North America’s biggest countries who celebrate the same holiday at different times, Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday and I can’t get enough of it, so much so that maybe I should look into going in on a Canadian Thanksgiving someday to get my fill,albeit a month early. Many of the same customs are shared withe two countries, but there are some differences that set the two Thanksgivings apart. We settle the score of who has the better Turkey Day in the Tale of the Tape.
Significance

American Thanksgiving-Thankful for God’s bounty and the generosity of Native Americans

Canadian Thanksgiving-Thank God for a good harvest
Advantage-American Thanksgiving
Observance

American Thanksgiving-All 50 states are “all in”

Canadian Thanksgiving-Optional in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland and Labrador
Advantage-American Thanksgiving
Travel and Family

American Thanksgiving-Busiest travel weekend of the year

Canadian Thanksgiving-Used as a three-day weekend getaway with the family
Advantage-Push
Pumpkin Pie

American Thanksgiving- Typically sweet with a custard filling

Canadian Thanksgiving- Spicy, with ginger, nutmeg, cloves and cinnamon
Advantage-Canadian Thanksgiving (That sounds damn good!)
Shopping

American Thanksgiving-Filled with Black Friday,Small Market Saturday and Cyber Monday

Canadian Thanksgiving-Not really. Thanksgiving is in October, we can wait
Advantage-Canadian Thanksgiving
Football

American Thanksgiving- A tripleheader with the game in Detroit, the game in Dallas and a game that rotates on a yearly basis

Canadian Thanksgiving-A doubleheader
Advantage-American Thanksgiving (Three games are better than two!)
Parades

American Thanksgiving-The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade

Canadian Thanksgiving-Parades happen on a smaller level, like the Kitchener-Waterloo Oktoberfest parade
Advantage-American Thanksgiving (This parade once had Rick Astley,people!)
Songs

American Thanksgiving-The first one occurred in 1621 when the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth Rock. You know the tale.

Canadian Thanksgiving-Its origins date back to 1578 with the voyage of Martin Frobisher from England in search of the Northwest Passage. The expedition was plagued with ice and bad storms. His fleet was scattered throughout the trip and once they all met at Frobisher Bay, he exclaimed “Mayster Wolfall, a learned man, appointed by her Majesties Councell to be their minister and preacher, made unto them a godly sermon, exhorting them especially to be thankefull to God for their strange and miraculous deliverance in those so dangerous places.”
Advantage-Canadian Thanksgiving

How many turkeys get sold?
American Thanksgiving-242 million
Canadian Thanksgiving-2.2 million
Advantage-American Thanksgiving
So there you have it, American Thanksgiving wins. Cheer up,Canadian Thanksgiving,seconds are just as great!