US vs. Canada cultures in terms of Holidays

[Jrb1979]

Seeing the amount of people that are traveling to Disney this week for Thanksgiving got me thinking on how Canada views Thanksgiving and Christmas for that matter compared to US.

In Canada for the most part for Thanksgiving and Christmas tend to get together with their family. I know it happens in the US too but it also feels like many travel go places like Disney for Christmas too.

 

[CdnCarrie]

I've heard that Thanksgiving is much bigger in the USA than Christmas. And vice versa in Canada.

 

[Disneylover99]

Most of us Canadians get the Monday off. But our Thanksgiving dinner is generally celebrated on either the Saturday, Sunday or Monday of Thanksgiving weekend.

I think Americans celebrate more exclusively on the actual holiday date.

 

[NAB]

Most of us Canadians get the Monday off. But our Thanksgiving dinner is generally celebrated on either the Saturday, Sunday or Monday of Thanksgiving weekend.

I think Americans celebrate more exclusively on the actual holiday date.

Yes I always have my Thanksgiving on the Sunday instead of Monday which is Thanksgiving. Just to have the family that comes has a day to relax before going back to work. Monday is for leftovers.

We have been trying to have Black Friday here the last few years but our sales start earlier each year it seems up until your Black Friday. Our dollar is so low I’m sure there will be fewer going cross border shopping this year.

I’m guessing our Christmas is the same as yours.

 

[tarheelmjfan]

I've heard that Thanksgiving is much bigger in the USA than Christmas. And vice versa in Canada.

It's the opposite in the US. Christmas is the much bigger holiday. Thanksgiving is typically a meal with friends & family, a parade & football. Christmas is a month+ long event. IME, very few people put up any decorations for Thanksgiving. The whole country is lit up for Christmas.

ETA: From what I've read here, it does appear that the US makes a bigger deal of Thanksgiving than Canada does though.

 

[fab1976]

Seeing the amount of people that are traveling to Disney this week for Thanksgiving got me thinking on how Canada views Thanksgiving and Christmas for that matter compared to US.

In Canada for the most part for Thanksgiving and Christmas tend to get together with their family. I know it happens in the US too but it also feels like many travel go places like Disney for Christmas too.

I think Americans travel over Thanksgiving because they get more than the one day off. If you get several days off, tied to the following weekend too, it means less vacation days used to travel. Meanwhile here we get the Monday off and that’s it. No real point in traveling for that one day.

 

[tarheelmjfan]

I think Americans travel over Thanksgiving because they get more than the one day off. If you get several days off, tied to the following weekend too, it means less vacation days used to travel. Meanwhile here we get the Monday off and that’s it. No real point in traveling for that one day.

Yes, time off has a lot to do with Americans traveling Thanksgiving week. Most Americans don't have a lot of vacation days, so those extra two days help to save some for later. A lot of people also travel to spend the holiday with family.

 

[MsChristy12]

I think Americans travel over Thanksgiving because they get more than the one day off.

It depends entirely on your employer. At my current job, I only get Thanksgiving day off. So is my husband, we both need to work this Friday and if want it off, we'll need to use vacation day.

 

[disneychrista]

I think Americans travel over Thanksgiving because they get more than the one day off. If you get several days off, tied to the following weekend too, it means less vacation days used to travel. Meanwhile here we get the Monday off and that’s it. No real point in traveling for that one day.

I think it is more that the KIDS get up to the entire week off of school for Thanksgiving. And Christmas they typically get up to two weeks off.

 

[CdnCarrie]

I think it is more that the KIDS get up to the entire week off of school for Thanksgiving. And Christmas they typically get up to two weeks off.

My kids only ever got the Monday off. They never had a full week off school except for Christmas break and spring break .

 

[Smugpugmug]

I've heard that Thanksgiving is much bigger in the USA than Christmas. And vice versa in Canada.

Eh, that's not really true. Christmas is a WAY bigger deal in the US than Thanksgiving.

 

[disneychrista]

My kids only ever got the Monday off. They never had a full week off school except for Christmas break and spring break .

In the US it is usually anywhere from Thursday/Friday to the entire week that kids get off for Thanksgiving. Christmas is typically, at least here, the two weeks of Christmas & New Years for "winter break" and again, here, the week either before or after Easter for "spring break."

 

[Disneylover99]

I think Christmas is just as big in both countries, but I sort of feel that in Canada, we generally decorate a bit earlier since our Thanksgiving is in October. I know some Americans don’t decorate until after their Thanksgiving.

Maybe the Christmas season feels longer to some in Canada?

 

[tvguy]

I think Christmas is a bigger holiday in the U.S. than Thanksgiving. Grocery stores will close early on Thanksgiving, only open until 3 pm. They all will be closed on Christmas.

 

[NAB]

I think Christmas is a bigger holiday in the U.S. than Thanksgiving. Grocery stores will close early on Thanksgiving, only open until 3 pm. They all will be closed on Christmas.

Our stores here are closed on the Monday for Thanksgiving.

 

[disneychrista]

Our stores here are closed on the Monday for Thanksgiving.

Used to be that way but not so much anymore. Stores are also open on Christmas day.

 

[NAB]

Used to be that way but not so much anymore. Stores are also open on Christmas day.

Wow only gas and restaurants open on holidays. Where are you that store open on Christmas Day?

 

[fab1976]

Our stores here are closed on the Monday for Thanksgiving.

Not every province has everything closed on Thanksgiving though. I’m in Ontario and they are here yes. But I know several people in Alberta and they often talk about going to the store on Thanksgiving. It threw me off for years when I first met them lol

 

[TiggerTrigger]

It depends entirely on your employer. At my current job, I only get Thanksgiving day off. So is my husband, we both need to work this Friday and if want it off, we'll need to use vacation day.

Anyone in the financial industry is accustomed to half days on the Friday after Thanksgiving as the various financial markets are open until 1pm ET. Unless we’re traveling, I work the day. It’s nice to be able to work a half day without having to take any paid leave. Christmas Eve is similar.

We are more likely to travel at Christmas. While the schools give a full week for thanksgiving, there’s more flexibility booking around Christmas. It was a challenge back when the kids believed in Santa, but he always found the girls. We’re also more flexible on what we eat on Christmas, so dining out for the holiday was always a lot of fun.

 

[_19disnA]

With all of these types of questions it is difficult to generalize. Thanksgiving is a one day event when Christmas can be an entire season. Also, depending on your religion, Christmas may not even be something you celebrate while Thanksgiving isn't directly related to any religion. If you have small children, lots of relatives, how much vacation you get from your job are probably all factors in how you choose to celebrate either of these regardless of which country you live in.