I live in Canada and every July 1 we celebrate our country’s birthday.
According to Wikipedia:
Canada Day (French Fete du Canada) is the national day of Canada. A federal statutory holiday, it celebrates the anniversary of Canadian Confederation which occurred on July 1, 1867, with the passing of the British North America Act, 1867 where the three separate colonies of the United Canadas, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick were united into a single Dominion within the British Empire called Canada.
Wikipedia further continues …
Originally called Dominion Day (French Le Jour de la Confederation), the holiday was renamed in 1982 when the Canadian Constitution was patriated by the Canada Act 1982.
We Canadians casually refer to this day as Canada’s birthday but it’s not as simple as that. Canada Day is the anniversary of an important milestone … the joining of the 3 colonies into 4 provinces. It’s interesting to note that United Canadas was divided into Ontario and Quebec. On this day Canada became “a kingdom in it’s own right.” Over the generations Canada gained more control and governance over it’s affairs. And finally Canada became completely sovereign in 1982 with the passing of the Canada Act.
And interestingly enough the Prime Minister at that time was Joseph Philippe Pierre Yves Elliott Trudeau … the father of our current Prime Minister Justin Pierre James Trudeau.
Enough of a history lesson.
A typical Canada Day in my house is waking early to either in-line skate or cycle followed by a large breakfast. Sometimes it’s bacon (Canadian bacon of course) & eggs with toast and jam or French Toast with Canadian maple syrup.
The afternoon is usually spent in the garden taking care of the plants or relaxing on the porch. All of this is followed by a bbq dinner which could be any number of things. We spend it being relatively quiet doing all the things we love.
To my Canadian friends, how do you spend Canada’s birthday?
Until the next time.
Thanks for mentioning former PM Pierre Trudeau... I remember when he was campaigning to be PM and came to Victoria... landed in a helicopter to give a rally on the 'hill' of Beacon Hill Park. I thought he was a real rock star! For Canada Day, my wife and I usually just take in the beautiful nature... go for a walk... pick up a coffee... pancakes and maple syrup!
I am not Canadian, but have happy memories of Canada Day. For five years, that was the day we packed up and drove from Toledo Ohio to Sarnia, Ontario for a two week vacation on Lake Huron. They were special days.