In Canada, as in all countries of the world, there are holidays that are considered federal and provincial for certain areas. Some of them are official and "red" days on the calendar, when everyone has a rest. Residents love it when Canada's national holidays fall on weekends for mini vacations or long weekends. Some of them are fixed to a specific date, for example, New Year - January 1, and some of them are floating, like Easter or Good Friday, are the same as in Russia.
New Year
This holiday in Canada is not as beloved as in Russia and less fussy, because it takes place after Christmas, for which people are very carefully prepared and waiting. Most often, the New Year is celebrated on the street with friends or relatives, they go to the city square, where the concert takes place. It ends with the chimes, and some of the residents go home, and some can go to the skating rink, where you can have a good time listening to live music.
Canada Day
The main national day takes place on July 1, because it was then in 1867 that the British North America Act was signed, where the three provinces united into one and formed the state of Canada.
Governor Charles Stanley Monk called on all residents to celebrate this date, but it was not official until 1917. Until 1879, the holiday had a different name - Dominion Day, as Canada was once called.
Everything changed after World War II, when the government organized a special celebration, which was celebrated with a banner-raising ceremony, followed by a concert and fireworks.
On October 27, 1982, the holiday was renamed and became Canada Day. On July 1, events such as parades, festivals, carnivals, music concerts and fireworks take place every year. The holidays and traditions of Canada are respected by the entire population, the moment is especially solemn when the signing of the citizen's oath for a new resident takes place on the main square of the capital. There are no other standards, each province is considering its own program.
Civil holiday in Canada
This is an interesting holiday that does not have any historical, revolutionary background. It was created back in the distant 19th century, only to not work on this day.
Even then, for the entire British Empire, the House of Commons legalized the day in early August as a bank holiday, and the famous banker, politician, and archaeologist and biologist John Lubbock recommended that this day be considered "prudent and satisfactory".
Today the first Monday of August is considered a Civil Holiday each year, although the name differs depending on the province.
Christmas Eve and Christmas
There are a lot of Catholics in Canada for whom sacred holidays are important. On the eve of Christmas, on Christmas Eve, everyone is preparing for the main holiday, when Jesus Christ was born. On the street, everyone decorates with colorful lights, prepares gifts and buys food for dinner the next day. In the towns of Labrador and Newfoundland, fish are sold and the proceeds are distributed to the poor.
Catholic Christmas is one of the main and brightest holidays. After all, more than 77% of Christians live in the country, 43% of which are Catholics. Christmas trees are set up in houses, main buildings and shops, shop windows and the entrance to the house are decorated with Christmas wreaths. This is a holiday when relatives gather at the table, whom you can not see for a whole year, but on this day everyone unites.
Good Friday, Easter, Easter Monday
Just like Christmas is a sacred holiday, Good Friday is a very important time for Canadians. This is the darkest day, which depends on the church calendar, and is officially considered a holiday for all of Canada, as the government considers it important to allow Catholics and Protestants to focus on mourning for Jesus.
Traditionally, Catholics wear dark clothes, blow out candles, close mirrors, and are not distracted by any business or activity.
On Bright Sunday, Easter comes, a holiday for which even non-believers are preparing, thinking over how to set the table and decorate the house. The symbol is the Easter Bunny, which is made in the formbaskets, and eggs and sweets are placed in it. This is a nationwide beautiful public holiday in Canada, when people not only visit each other and go to church, but also go to fairs and bazaars where they sell delicious treats. On this day, they try to convey a special joy to children: they decorate the house together, give gifts, go to church and eat sweets. However, in Canada there are two attitudes of this holiday - some prepare symbols such as a hare and painted eggs, while others prepare a candle and fire.
The day after Easter, i.e. Monday, is officially designated as a day off when people bless food and bless their home for the whole of the following year. But in reality, only a few institutions do not work on this state holiday, while the rest go to work.
Québec National Day
When the French began to settle in Canada, the religious feast of John the Baptist came with them, which begins on June 23 and ends only the next day. Today, this day is celebrated as French-Canadian Cultural Day. Quebec is one of the largest "French" cities outside of France. French is the mother tongue of 80% of the population.
The Day of John the Baptist is a day of patriots that originated in 1834 when one of the newspaper's publishers, Luger Duvernay, felt that the French also needed a national holiday, which is still celebrated on a large scale in this province.
Victoria Day
Queen Victoria was born on May 24, 1819,and this day was for a long time the chief holiday of the British Empire. But many years passed before it was considered national and official, and only since 1901 it has been celebrated everywhere on the Monday before May 25th. This is the day when Queen Victoria, who did a lot for Canada, is remembered, and as a sign of respect, Canadians call her the name of the city and street, and her portrait is located on the 20 Canadian dollar bill. However, no lavish celebrations are held, and the day is simply an additional day off.
Unusual holidays: Tulip Festival, International Earth Day, Boxing Day
What holidays in Canada are interesting and unusual, as well as known everywhere and gathering a large number of people?
Tulip Festival, which takes place in Ottawa in the first week of May. One of the best events of spring, when the capital is immersed in flowers brought from Holland.
The history of the appearance of this holiday in Canada is interesting because during the World War the royal family from the Netherlands hid here, and at that time Queen Margriet was born. For official confirmation of the birth of the queen, it is necessary that this takes place on the territory of the country. The government of Canada went to the trick, and the room where the baby was born was recognized as part of the Netherlands.
Today the tulip festival is the gratitude of the Dutch to the country that sheltered them at one time. The festival begins with the Tulip Ball, where you can taste national dishes and drinks, and every year duringmore than 5 million flowers bloom during the holiday.
Another celebration that can be attributed to the unusual holidays in Canada is Earth Day, which takes place on April 22. Almost every schoolchild takes part in every possible way to remind everyone what planet we live on and how to protect it. It is not for nothing that Canada, according to UNESCO, is one of the most favorable countries for living, and the government is fighting to ensure that plants and factories control the emission of harmful substances and install cleaning devices.
The Feast of Gifts is as original as the Tulip Festival and takes place on December 26, after Christmas. At first it was the feast of St. Stephen, who was the first Christian martyr. It was then that they began to prepare gifts and boxes of money that were intended for the poor.
Jazz Festival
In June, every year for 30 years now, the main jazz festival has been held, which was listed in the Guinness Book of Records. Popular artists and millions of spectators come to Montreal, and concerts take place on the banks of the Lawrence River, where a variety of music plays from night to morning, from classical jazz to indie rock. Not only on the coast, but also in the city, music is played at concert venues.
Patriotic holidays
As mentioned earlier, June 24 is a national holiday in the province of Quebec. In addition, there are also other major holidays in Canada that are considered patriotic.
In 1995, Prime Minister Jean Chrétien declared February 15th Flag Day. Interestingly, it was not until 1965 that the maple leaf flag was raised for the first time. Previously, they considered the image of the cross of St. George, when the territory was owned by the British. The flag was further changed when possession passed to the French. The banner of the Orleans dynasty was used as an image - with lilies.
On the third Monday of February, another civic holiday in Canada is celebrated - Heritage Day, which has received public recognition. Heritage refers to the totality of physical and cultural resources. This day in the calendar reminds all the inhabitants of the country that you need to know history and be proud of where you live.
The population of Canada is a fusion of two nations, the French and the British, so two hymns are officially adopted, the day of which is celebrated on June 27th. First, the Canadians sang the British "Oh God Save the Queen", then they created a new anthem, "The Maple Leaf Forever", the French Canadians offered another song - "Oh Canada", which gained popularity. Only since 1980 has it received the official status of the national anthem.
Family holidays
There are many people who honor national and religious holidays in Canada, but there are other important days that are family related.
Mother's Day is a very important holiday for Canada when everyone thanks their mothers for their affection, love and kindness. Back in 1914, American Anna Jarvis convinced the president to create this holiday to thank not only her mother, who raised 11 children, but all mothers for their work. A little later toCanadians have also joined this holiday.
Father's Day is celebrated on the third Sunday of June - as a veneration of fatherhood and unlimited responsibility to the family. This is a popular men's holiday when adult children visit their parents, arrange dinners and take walks together.
There is also such a holiday as the day of grandparents, when the older generation is honored. A traditional event is a picnic or barbecue, when the maximum attention is paid to grandparents.
