I have always admired our Canadian neighbors - particularly in how they manage Thanksgiving. In Canada, Thanksgiving comes at a time when the leaves are in full bloom and it's still nice outside. On the flip side, it also falls far enough from Christmas to avoid saturating the festive period with an overload of turkey just 30 days apart. In contrast, the U.S. Thanksgiving often sees families scrambling in the winter chill, crammed between Halloween and Christmas preparations. Here's the thing: Canada's Thanksgiving tradition is more thoughtful, more practical. It is a model that the United States should seriously consider.

Did you know, the Canadian Thanksgiving root is nearly as old as the American tradition? It took place in 1578, a good forty years before the Pilgrim’s shindig at Plymouth in 1621 (source: Canadian Encyclopedia). The timing of American Thanksgiving wasn’t even set until 1941, under Franklin D. Roosevelt. Prior to that, it was a moveable feast (source: History.com). Given all this, a shift in our Thanksgiving holiday wouldn't sacrilege anything, but only makes common sense.

I, therefore, humbly approach all like-minded citizens to act. Let us petition the United States government to align our Thanksgiving holiday with that of our northern neighbours, bringing practical and sensible change to our yearly calendar. Sign this petition and let's bring a new change to our holiday tradition.