The United States and Canada partake in so much in coarse that it ’s a hoot to call out those ethnic quirks that make the North American neighbour distinct , like the well-disposed disagreement onhow to enunciate certain vowels .
Holidays are no different . Many of the most widely celebrated Canadian holidays are nearly superposable to their American versions , include New Year’s , Valentine ’s Day , Easter , HalloweenandChristmas . But there are a handful of uniquely Canadian holidays that non - Canuck have probably never heard of , yet offer a fascinating glimpse into Canadian history and culture .
In 2020 , we reached out to J.J. McCullough , Washington Postopinion columnist , fecund CanadianYouTuberand creator of the exhaustive ( but far from exhausting ) " Canada Guide " for a personalized circuit through the Canadian calendar .
Victoria Day (May 24-ish)
Celebrated a workweek before America ’s Memorial Day , Victoria Daymarks the unofficial scratch line of summer in Canada . The holiday began in 1845 as a celebration of the British crowned head Queen Victoria ’s natal day May 24 . When she break down in 1901 , it became Empire Day and floated around the calendar to play off up with the new pose monarch ’s natal day . In the fifties , the government mend the engagement as either May 24 or the Monday proceeding it , seal its long weekend condition . In 1977 , the jubilation got its original name back , Victoria Day .
queerly , said McCullough , Victoria Day is still officially a celebration of the current Danaus plexippus ’s birthday , even though Queen Elizabeth ’s real natal day is in April .
In practice , McCullough allege that the royal aspect of Victoria Day is " completely absent . " A lot of folks simply call the holiday " the May foresightful weekend " or " May 2 - 4 . " That last one has a doubled meaning , since Victoria ’s birth escort just materialize to equal the number of beer in a full case ( or " monotone " as Canadians call it ) .
Canada Day (July 1)
Do n’t let the grilled meats , fireworks and July engagement fool you , Canada Day is not Canadian Independence Day . Technically . Canada Day commemorates the1867 unificationof four British colonies into a " dominion " known as Canada . In that way , Canada Day is more like Canada ’s natal day . As for full independency , that was n’t fully achieved until 1982 !
Canada Day was n’t always such a enceinte holiday , said McCullough , and it was known as Dominion Day untilCanada officially"patriated " its constitution in 1982 , meaning it removed all power from the British Parliament to amend the Canadian constitution .
" It ’s a comparatively recent thing , " McCullough said . " The Centennial celebrations in 1967 kicked off reincarnate involvement in a day of aggregative loyal celebration across the country . "
dedicate its summer timing , Canada Day is celebrated much like July 4 in America , with outdoor barbecues and fireworks . The difference , McCullough state , is that there ’s an expectation that the Canadian government takes duty for planning and organize " a big , fancy thing " July 1 , the largest of which take place at the statelyParliament Hillin Ottawa , Ontario , the nation ’s capital .
McCullough jokes that Canadians have tame a myth that they ’re a " retire and humble people when it comes to nationalism , " but that ’s mostly a direction to feel superior to Americans .
" Canada is the only country in the earthly concern that brags how modest it is , " state McCullough .
The Civic Holiday (First Monday in August)
At first , this seems like a punchline to a Canada joke . I mean , could there be a more blandly polite name for a vacation than the Civic Holiday ?
But the gimpy name for this long weekend in August stems from the fact that every Canadian province call the holiday something dissimilar . It ’s called British Columbia Day in British Columbia and Saskatchewan Day in Saskatchewan . In Ontario , even dissimilar cities habituate different name calling : Simcoe Day in Toronto and Colonel By Day in Ottawa , each celebrating different historic figures on the same Clarence Shepard Day Jr. .
So , it make sense that the catch - all name for the holiday is so generic .
" The reason why they call it the Civic Holiday on the Canadian calendar is because the calendar is grow for the intact state , so they ca n’t put each responsibility ’s specific name on it , " said McCullough .
Thanksgiving (Second Monday in October)
Canadian Thanksgiving almost did n’t make this list because it has near everything in plebeian with itsAmerican translation . In Canada , mob and friends gather around the Thanksgiving table for a catgut - busting meal of turkey , cranberry , mashed potatoes , rolls and pumpkin Proto-Indo European , just like their southern neighbors . But there are some noteworthy difference .
First of all , the day of the month . Canadian Thanksgiving is celebrated more than a month before American Thanksgiving . In 1957 , the Canadian administration settled on the 2d Monday in October , since the harvest time of year in Canada enclose up in early October to outwit the comer of frigid temperatures .
McCullough said that the second important remainder is that Canadian Thanksgiving has nothing to do with Pilgrims or endemic people ( thoughSir Martin Frobisherdid sail from England to the Canadian dominion of Nunavut in 1578 ; he and his crew celebrated their successful arrival with a meal of salt beef and mushy peas and a Christian church serve of blessing ) . As in the U.S. , while faith and family unit are elements of Canadian Thanksgiving , the accent is on the food . The holiday utterly realise traction in Canada due to its popularity in America , but McCullough sound out that Canadians consciously celebrate a " slimmed down " version of Thanksgiving that ’s free of America ’s Mayflower mythology .
Remembrance Day (Nov. 11)
This pop and drab Canadian holiday shares its particular date with Veterans Day in the United States , which was originally calledArmistice Day . Both holidays began as memorial to the tenner of thousands of Canadian and American soldier who died in World War I , which ended Nov. 11 , 1918 . However , Remembrance Day has continue more of its original connection with the " war to end all wars . "
For example , Canadians continue the hundred - old drill of trap a red poppy to their shirts or lapels for the first 11 days of November and observing a moment of secretiveness at 11 a.m. Nov. 11 . The violent poppybegan as an American memorialto fallen WWI soldier that spread to France and England , but it was revolutionize by a far-famed verse form called " In Flanders Fields " indite by a Canadian WWI medic , Lt . Col . John McCrae . The poem , part encomium and part call to arms , describes the ruddy flowers that reappeared on the battle - scarred landscape of Belgium in the spring .
In Canada , mathematical group like the Royal Canadian Legion Society and the Boy Scouts sell credit card poppy pins on street corner to raise money for veterans ' organizations , much like Salvation Army Santas solicit donations at Christmas . Additionally , the wearing of a poppy in former November is considered a requirement for any mainstream Canadian political or public frame .
" It would be ascertain as quite controversial if they did n’t , " said McCullough . " Among even Canadians , it varies . It ’s becoming a footling second more politicized in some respects , " consanguineous to the American flag in the States .
Boxing Day (Dec. 26)
Celebrated the day after Christmas , Boxing Day originated in Victorian England as a day for wealthy family to box up gifts to give to their servants and to the poor . Today , box Day is one of the engaged shopping 24-hour interval of the year in Canada and the U.K. as stores offer huge post - Christmas cut-rate sale to unlade their unsold ware .
McCullough said while Black Friday has of late creeped into Canadian shopping calendar , Boxing Day is still associated with big electronics purchases like boob tube . Like Black Friday in the States , hardcore deal searcher will camp out the Nox of Dec. 25 to get first pick of the discounted items .
