Happy Thanksgiving Day!

But how did it happen?

Did it have anything to do with

1. Martin Frobisher, 

2. Plymouth Rock, 

3. John A. MacDonald, or 

4. None of these? 

The answer is ... (drumroll) ... read on:

Excerpt, in Plain Text:

The Ecclesiastical Gazette

November 8, 1859, p. 114

http://books.google.ca/books?id=oJ0OAAAAQAAJ&pg=RA1-PA114&ci=330%2C35%2C359%2C764&source=bookclip



COLONIAL.

CANADA.--PUBLIC DAY OF THANKSGIVING.

_________

PROCLAMATION

PROVINCE OF CANADA.

EDMUND HEAD.

Victoria, by the Grace of God, of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, Queen, defender of the faith, &c., &c., &c.

To all to whom these presents shall come--greeting:--

John A. Macdonald, Attorney General.

Whereas it hath pleased Almighty God, in his great goodness, to vouchsafe unto our province of Canada the blessings of an abundant harvest; we, therefore, adoring the divine goodness and duly considering that the blessings of peace and plenty now enjoyed by our people in the said province do call for public and solemn acknowledgments, have thought fit by and with the advice of our executive council of our province of Canada, to issue this proclamation, hereby appointing that a general holiday and day of thanksgiving to Almighty God for these His mercies be observed throughout our said province of Canada, on Thursday, the 3rd day of November next, and we do earnestly exhort all our loving subjects therein that they do observe the said public Day of Thanksgiving.

In testimony thereof we have caused these our letters to be made potent, and the great seal of our said province of Canada to be hereunto affixed: Witness our right trusty and well-beloved the Right Honorable Sir Edmund Walker Head, Baronet, Governor General of British North America, &c., &c. At our Government House, in our city of Toronto, in our said province, this 13th day of September, A.D. 1859, and in the twenty-third year of our reign.

By command, CHAS. AILEEN, Secretary.