Holidays

Holidays in Canada

One part of the country speaks English, the other French. This idiosyncratic mix alone promises to make for an interesting holiday.

Overview

New Year’s Day – January 01

Karif Friday – Flexible

Easter Monday – Flexible

Victoria Day – Monday before or on May 24

Canada Day – July 01

Labor Day – 1st Monday in September

Harvest Thanksgiving – 2nd Monday in October

Veterans Day (Rememberance Day)- November 11

1st Christmas Day – December 25

2nd Christmas Day (Boxing Day) – December 26

Worth knowing about selected holidays

New Year

The way to bring in the New Year in cities across Canada is through many drinks to a big fireworks display. It is celebrated extensively with joy, just as we know it from Germany. Things are much quieter in the rural areas. Here, people like to meet their neighbours for ice fishing and end the year with a good chat on the shore.

Easter

Similarly to Germany, at Easter the house is festively decorated, also with self-painted eggs. After going to church, the whole family then gathers for a sumptuous Easter meal.

Victoria Day

The British Queen and King, respectively, are also Canadian heads of state – they are specially honoured on Victoria Day. The day is named after Queen Victoria, a fact that was not changed after the monarch’s death. Victoria Day is officially celebrated on her birthday, May 24. However, to give the population a long weekend, the holiday is always moved to the Monday before May 24, unless it happens to be a Monday anyway. The Union Jack is hoisted on all public buildings on this day. Parades are held up and down the country and the big cities outdo each other with spectacular fireworks displays.

Canada Day

With the British North American Act of 1867, Canada was given a constitution. This effectively led to the creation of an independent state from the various provinces. Canadians celebrate this day with parades, free concerts, carnival-like events and, of course, large fireworks displays. There is no central event. Each city celebrates Canada Day in its own way.

Harvest Festival

As in the US, Thanksgiving is almost more important than Christmas in Canada. Unlike the US, however, Canadians are more aware of the Christian background of the holiday. However, the traditions of both countries are very similar.

The centerpiece of the celebration is a large meal and at the center of that meal is a very large stuffed turkey. This is cut by the head of the family and eaten in the company of loved ones. Then two eaters take the forked leg of the turkey. Each pulls on one end. The one who gets the longer end gets a wish. Gifts on Thanksgiving are otherwise unusual.

Christmas

Fans of kitsch get their money’s worth at Christmas in Canada. Reindeer sleighs in all the gardens, brightly coloured garlands of lights on all the houses and (plastic) Santa Claus trying to get into the house at every other chimney. In addition to these nationwide rituals, there are also some regional customs that might be of interest to the traveller.

Many Scots settled Nova Scotia on Canada’s Atlantic coast. English chorales are still popularly sung here today. Masked BelsnicklersorMummers parade through the towns at Christmas time and ask the children if they have been good last year. Of course they answer in the affirmative and are rewarded with sweets.

Catholic French Christmas, on the other hand, is celebrated in Quebec and parts of New Brunswick and Manitoba. Pork pies and small meatballs are the centrepiece of the festive menu.

In British Columbia, an area rich in fish, pate is often substituted for fresh salmon.