Canada Day July 1st celebration. Holidays in Canada. State, national, official and unofficial holidays in Canada. Quebec national holiday

The holiday of July 1 is celebrated in the country of the Maple Leaf on a wide scale! Moreover, in the capital of Ottawa - on Parliament Hill and since 1982, when Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain announced the fundamental document on the transfer of constitutional power directly from her Kingdom to Canada itself, which was reflected in the new Constitution. Celebrations are mostly organized and take place in nature - parades, colorful processions, festivals. A number of provinces have some differences: in Newfoundland and Labrador, in particular, July 1 is also celebrated as the Day of Remembrance of compatriots who died on the battlefields during the First World War.

There are many other differences, including those related to the national composition of the population. As you know, its population in Canada exceeds 33 million people. If we take it specifically by region, the largest number of citizens live in the province of Quebec - about eight million. Next comes in descending order: Prince Edward Island - almost one million four hundred thousand; Nova Scotia - for nine hundred thousand; New Brunswick - almost seven hundred sixty thousand and Newfoundland and Labrador - about 508 thousand.

And all 33 million-plus are divided into a hundred distinct ethnic groups. Over the past four centuries, no less than 13 million people have arrived here from Europe. Among them are the British, French, Germans, Dutch, Poles, Greeks and representatives of other peoples and nationalities. But at the same time, they all belong to two main groups - the Anglo-Canadian, of which there are 18 million (58 percent) and the French-Canadian (all the rest). Naturally, they are fluent in their native languages ​​- English, French, German, Polish, Greek and so on and so on in order. There is no harassment in linguistic communication in the country. But English quite voluntarily dominates in view of the absolute majority of Anglo-Canadian representatives. However, many communicate with each other in French. Since 1980, Canada Day celebrations have been widely promoted to other continents and countries in different parts of the world. It is celebrated with pleasure both in London and Paris themselves, and in Sydney, Hong Kong, Mexico or in Afghanistan, where the Country of the Maple Leaf has its own military base. And there are outdoor festivals, solemn marches, and folk festivals. The holiday has become popular among all the people and is so important that in some cases the Queen of Great Britain herself attends it. Elizabeth II, in particular, pleased Canadians with her presence at the celebrations in 1990, 1992, 1997 and 2010. She actively helped celebrate Canada Day on the eve of her centenary in 1967. It should be borne in mind that it was in 1867 that the British North America Act was signed, when three provinces - Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Quebec - were united into one state. Later, six former colonies joined the emerging Confederacy. The above-mentioned Confederation was finally formed by 1949, when it included the tenth province - Newfoundland plus three northern territories. Let us add to what has been said - the predominant Anglo-Canadian nation in the Land of the Maple Leaf was formed back in the seventeenth century, when streams of English, Scots, and Irish poured into it from the British Isles.

Maple Leaf Country

By the way, why did Canada have such an amazing second name, the Country of the Maple Leaf, which became popular both in itself and in the world?! Actually, she has two symbols - a beaver, meaning exceptional hard work, and an eleven-pointed red maple leaf. And the fact is that this tree species is the main wealth of Canada. On the one hand, it is quickly exported and brings in a lot of income. On the other hand, maple sugar is produced from it, which is consumed both by the population itself, but is also exported and is in demand abroad. The new symbol was first named by the newspaper of Lower Canada "LE CANADIEN" back in 1836. And in 1964, it appeared on the State Flag - a red rectangular panel with a white square in the middle and a red eleven-charcoal maple leaf. By the way, the sports uniforms of Canadian hockey players who compete in world championships and are fierce rivals of the USSR and then Russian national teams bear the red maple leaf emblem.

In our country, Canada Day is also celebrated. And diasporas in Moscow and other cities. In the Book for Honored Guests at the Embassy of the Country of the Maple Leaf in Moscow, our celebrities at receptions leave their notes with congratulations and wishes for peace and prosperity to Canada and its people!

Canada Day is the main public holiday established in honor of the unification of all the North American colonies of Britain into a single Dominion of Canada (formerly known as Dominion Day) on the basis of the British North America Act, which came into force on July 1, 1867. On this day, the first colonies of British North America - the provinces of Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia and New Bronswick, united into a confederation called the Dominion of Canada, marking the beginning of the existence of a new country.
The British North America Act, originally created by the four provinces, was equally open to the other colonies that joined the confederation later. Having accepted 6 more provinces one after another, Canada acquired its modern shape by the end of the 19th century. The process of the final formation of the Confederation ended in 1949, when the former British Dominion of Newfoundland became the tenth province of Canada. Today, in addition to ten provinces, Canada also includes three Northern Territories.

Canadians considered themselves true British for quite a long time, even after the British America Act came into force. This holiday was not celebrated at all until 1958, when the government decided to serve the people with “bread and circuses” by organizing a concert near Parliament and evening fireworks. A large celebration took place in 1967, on Canada's centenary, which helped popularize this holiday among the masses. Now, every year in Ottawa, Canada Day is celebrated on a grand scale. This year the program included a carillon concert, a changing of the guard, two concerts at Parliament (in the afternoon and evening), and numerous concerts in city parks, and free museums. Of course, the holiday ends with an impressive fireworks display.

On this day, Canadians dress up in white and red (the colors of the flag), the more wonderful the better. Groups of young people who are going to spend the day together often choose the same theme or even the same clothes to appear cohesive.

Canada's faces are different, fully reflecting the multinational cauldron in which we are all stewing

The central street adjacent to Parliament is blocked, and people are actively wandering along it

A good crowd, but not that much of a crowd when compared to Moscow City Day, for example

There are two concerts organized near the Parliament: one in the afternoon and one in the evening. People started arriving for the evening show about two hours before the start...

In the evening, Ottawa residents and guests of the capital traditionally gather in the city center to watch the fireworks. Some take the best places along the river even 5 hours before the start - they sit peacefully in folding chairs, have a picnic and chat.

Here you can find Canadian holidays. State, national, official and unofficial holidays in Canada.

Canada is a country of borders and boundaries. As the inscription on the country's coat of arms says, it stretches “from sea to sea” (in Latin “A Mari Usque Ad Mare”). In all Canadian provinces, with the exception of Quebec, the official language is English. The country itself is in many ways similar to other English-speaking countries in tradition, and is governed by the Queen of England, Elizabeth II.

All Canadian holidays can be divided into two groups: those that coincide with most generally recognized holidays in the world, and those that are celebrated only in Canada. Whatever the holiday, Canadians are very fond of any events and activities in their country, especially if it is also a day off.

Celebrated very joyfully and magnificently Christmas And New Year(December 25 and January 1) in Canada, not skimping on decorations and gifts. Also invariably celebrated Valentine's Day(The 14th of February), April Fool's Day(April 1), Easter(date changes), Halloween(October 31) and some other international celebrations. However, it is the original Canadian holidays that are of particular interest, which radically distinguish the country from other countries.

One of the most important holidays in the country is Canada Day, which is celebrated annually on July 1. It was on this day that Canada became an independent state, or in other words, a Dominion. The celebration of this event is accompanied by parades, fireworks, carnivals, concerts, and takes place in all cities and towns of the country. Events in the capital of Canada, Ottawa, are particularly pompous. On this day, the city is decorated with Canadian flags, the symbolic colors are red and white, ceremonies for awarding Canadian citizenship to new residents of the country are held, and the most important event is the gathering of residents and guests of the city on Parliament Hill. A traditional Canada Day treat is pancakes with maple syrup. Officially, July 1 is considered a day off, and if this date falls on a Sunday, the day off is moved to July 2.

Another unusual holiday in Canada is Queen Victoria's Birthday. This holiday is celebrated on May 25th every year and is followed by a long weekend. The tradition appeared in Canada in 1952 and was borrowed from the British, who annually celebrate Monarch Day. Victoria Day is quite festive, accompanied by concerts and fireworks.

Deserves special attention National Aboriginal Day. This is a national holiday held annually on June 21st. The date of the holiday was not chosen by chance, since it is on this day that the indigenous population of North America celebrates the summer solstice. This holiday has been celebrated since 1996 and is intended to familiarize everyone with the cultural life of the Aboriginal peoples of Canada, i.e. Indian tribes and northern peoples. On this day, large-scale events take place across the country, including free concerts, summer festivals, charity treats and much more. There are also cheerful chants and dances everywhere. The main rite of the festival is extinguishing the sacred fire. Traditional dishes of this holiday are goose stew and fried bread. In some parts of Canada, this day is a legal holiday.

The Canadian province of Quebec, from June 23 to 24 each year, celebrates Saint John the Baptist Day, also known as French Canadian Culture Day. This is an official holiday recognized as a holiday in the province of Quebec. The tradition of celebrating John the Baptist Day came to Canada with the French colonists. Despite the fact that in modern times this holiday has a pronounced political character, residents of Quebec and Montreal celebrate it quite cheerfully with concerts, fireworks and folk festivities.

Canadians highly honor their parents and therefore celebrate every 2nd Sunday in May. Mother's Day and every June 19 - Father's Day. Despite the fact that these holidays do not coincide in date with March 8 or February 23, the events and celebrations associated with them are very similar. Children also give gifts to their mothers on Mother's Day, thanking them for everything and freeing them from household chores. Father's Day is the same. These holidays originally appeared in the USA, and then began to be held in Canada.

One of the must-do events in Canada is Remembrance Day, celebrated on November 11. This holiday is associated with the end of the First World War and aims to honor the memory of fallen heroes. At exactly 11:00 on November 11, Canada annually holds a Minute of Silence, followed by memorial ceremonies with the participation of veterans and ordinary citizens. Flowers and wreaths are laid at the monuments to the dead. The symbol of this day is a red poppy, and in order to honor the memory of the heroes who fell in Flanders, everyone pins it to their chest.

A well-known fall holiday in Canada is Thanksgiving Day, which is celebrated every 2nd Monday of October. This holiday has a rich history and is directly related to the settlement of America. Thanksgiving Day has been celebrated for a long time in the United States and a little later in Canada in honor of a rich harvest and successful agricultural work. On this day, it is customary for the whole family to gather around a large table and eat traditional home-cooked dishes: roast turkey with cranberry sauce and pumpkin pie. For many families, this is a good reason to get together and rejoice in family well-being. Officially, this holiday is a day off, the so-called “long weekend”, which also makes Canadians happy. The external attributes of the holiday are garlands of flowers on the doors and windows of houses, straw effigies or patchwork dolls, and many other cute things that bring comfort and well-being.

Another reason to vacation in Canada is called Labor Day, officially recognized as a day off. The holiday takes place on the 1st Monday of September in honor of all workers who have earned their legal rest.

There is another holiday in Canada that deserves attention, despite the fact that it is not natively Canadian. This holiday is called St. Patrick's Day. It originated far away in Celtic Ireland. Today, many countries in the world gladly honor the memory of this saint and celebrate his holiday every year on March 17th. In Canada, St. Patrick's Day has been celebrated since 1894. This holiday is dedicated mainly to travelers and wanderers, as St. Patrick loved adventure and lived an interesting life. In his last years he was an Irish priest and Christian missionary. In honor of him, on March 17, people sing funny songs, dance Irish dances to the sounds of bagpipes, and, of course, dress in all green, the traditional color of this holiday.

Canada Day is a summer holiday, so mass celebrations are usually held outdoors: parades, themed festivals, carnivals, barbecues, fireworks, air and sea performances, free concerts. This day also often marks the signing of the Citizenship Oath ceremony for people receiving Canadian citizenship. Canada Day is celebrated on July 1, except when this date falls on a Sunday. Then July 2 becomes a day off, but all celebrations, as a rule, take place on July 1.

There is no single standard for celebrating Canada Day, but Ottawa, the capital of the country, traditionally becomes the center of celebrations. Big concerts are held here on Parliament Hill. Festive events and performances also take place in most parks and squares in the old part of the city. The official head of state, the British Queen, may come to Canada. Elizabeth II attended Canada Day in 1990, 1992, 1997 and 2010. She also took part in organizing the celebration of the centenary of Canadian nationhood on July 1, 1967.

The national character of the holiday is the cause of friction between Canadians of Anglo-Saxon and French origin in the French-speaking province of Quebec. Sometimes fighters from the Movement for the Secession of Quebec mark their performances on this day. However, there have been no serious clashes between Protestants and the police in recent years.

Canadian citizens outside the country organize Canada Day celebrations in Trafalgar Square in London, Sydney, Hong Kong and some other cities. The celebrations reach their greatest scale in the cities of Detroit, Michigan, USA, and Windsor, Ontario, Canada. Since the 50s of the 20th century, the International Freedom Festival has been here, which combines the celebration of Canada Day and US Independence Day (July 4th).

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Quebec is the first capital of Canada and the main city of the French-speaking province of the same name in this country. A completely special territory, the inhabitants of which are distinguished by their distinct character and way of life. The seven million population of Quebec are descendants of only 10 thousand not very respectable immigrants from France who arrived here in the 17th-18th centuries. They do not consider themselves Americans and distance themselves from Anglo-Canadians; however, Quebecers do not consider themselves French either.

The patron saint of Quebec is Jean-Baptiste (John the Baptist), whose date falls on June 24th. This day is also considered Quebec Day. And the festivities that take place on this date dwarf Canada Day, which the nation celebrates on July 1. This holiday, according to historical evidence, was celebrated by the first settlers, and new neighbors, the Huron tribes, also took part in it. The exact program is unknown, but it is assumed that it was accompanied by wild fun, dancing and abundant feasting.

For many Quebecers, this day is an occasion to take part in a historical reenactment and wear a 17th-century costume. Whole columns of such people are recruited. Considering that the procession passes through the historical center of the city, it may seem that these four centuries never happened, and cheerful French sailors who first set foot on the soil of North America still walk along the city streets.

In recent years, representatives of other nationalities have also taken part in the procession - African dancers move in columns, and Latin American tunes can also be heard. The leader of the Parti Québécois, who opened the procession, recently said that people of different nationalities and skin colors are now becoming real Quebecers.

Today is Quebec Day in Canada - this is a fun procession in which both residents of the city and Quebecers gathered from all over the province, as well as numerous tourists who come specially for this day, take part. Already in the morning on the streets you can see cheerful people with Quebec flags, dressed in the colors of the province - blue and white. They dance and sing ancient songs, paying tribute to their historical homeland - France.

The celebration continues in numerous restaurants, where cheerful songs are sung in French - Quebecers love to sing, eat and drink. And in the evening, the night sky over the provincial capital is illuminated by flashes of multi-colored fireworks, which all residents and guests of the city gather to watch.

Canada Day, formerly Dominion Day, is a national holiday in Canada, a national holiday celebrating the anniversary of the signing of the British North America Act on July 1, 1867, which united the three provinces into the single state of Canada. The holiday is celebrated both in Canada and abroad.

Canada Day: Education Canada

Often referred to as Canada's birthday, especially in the popular press, the event commemorates the unification of the British North American colonies of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and the Province of Canada into a federation of four provinces (the Province of Canada was split into Ontario and Quebec in the process) on July 1, 1867 .

Although the creation of Canada as a kingdom with its own rights was envisaged, the British Parliament retained limited rights to control the policies of the new state, which were gradually reduced until 1982, when the Constitution Act established the Canadian constitution.

Canada Day: Founding of Canada Day

On June 20, 1868, Governor General of Canada Charles Stanley Monck issued a royal proclamation to Canadians to celebrate the anniversary of confederation. However, the holiday did not become a public holiday until 1879, when it was called Dominion Day in memory of the country being called a Dominion in the British North America Act. Initially, the holiday was not the main one in the national calendar; until the early twentieth century, Canadians considered themselves British and thus had no interest in celebrating a distinctly Canadian form of patriotism. Therefore, no official ceremonies were held until 1917 - the golden anniversary of the Confederacy - and then for another full decade.

Everything changed after the Second World War; Since 1958, the Canadian government has presided over Dominion Day celebrations, usually consisting of a flag-raising ceremony on Parliament Hill in the afternoon and evening, followed by a concert and fireworks display. Canada's Centenary in 1967 is often seen as an important milestone in the history of Canadian patriotism and the establishment of Canada as a separate independent nation, after which Dominion Day became more popular among ordinary Canadians.

In the late sixties, a televised multinational concert in Ottawa was added and the day became known as the Festival of Canada; After 1980, the Canadian government began to promote Dominion Day celebrations outside the capital, issuing grants and aid to cities across the country.

Canada Day: Celebrated Around the World

Canadian expatriates organize their own Canada Day celebrations. For example, since June 30, 2006, there has been an annual Canada Day celebration in Trafalgar Square (location of Canada House) in London, England. Organized by the Canadian community in the UK and the Canadian diplomatic mission in London, the event includes performances by Canadian performers and a street hockey demonstration, among other things. Also, since 2000, the Victoria Cross bar in Sydney, Australia, has been the site of the official celebration of Canada Day; Canada Day is also celebrated in Hong Kong.

The Canadian Forces celebrates the holiday at its base in Afghanistan and also hosts events in Chapala, Mexico with the American Legion. The Canadian Club in Ajijic, Mexico is also organizing the celebration.

Detroit (Michigan), USA and Windsor, Ontario have celebrated Dominion Day or Canada Day and US Independence Day since the 1950s with the International Freedom Festival. The large fireworks display over the Detroit River, which separates the two cities, attracts hundreds of thousands of people every year.

Something similar happens every year at the Friendship Festival, a joint celebration in Fort Erie, Ontario and nearby Buffalo (New York), USA on Canada Day and Independence Day.