. Thanksgiving is actually an ancient northern European tradition - Harvest Home. In the territories that now make up Canada and the US the idea of Thanksgiving Feasts as religious festivals to celebrate successful harvests or other momentous events was inherited from the old world. Source: pinterest.com Historically in Canada Thanksgiving celebrations commemorated everything from explorer Martin Frobishers successful 0000 crossing of the Northwest Passage to victories during the World Wars whereas the emphasis in the US. 