Just as sleep and food is necessary for our body similarly holidays are important for relaxation and change – they provide relief from the monotony of our daily routine. They are important for our mental, emotional, and social well-being. Some holidays are religious, some have emerged from social habits while others mark important moments in history. Regardless of their origin, holidays in Canada are widely respected and celebrated by its residents.
New Year’s Day
The celebrations of New Year start from the eve of 31st December, the day marks the end of the year and the beginning of a new one. New Year’s Eve is a chance for Canadians to drink and party one final night before the year changes over. New Year’s parties traditionally run until midnight or later, and usually feature fancy clothes, delicious dishes, and champagne. New Year’s Day has no real customs or celebrations associated with it, everyone enjoys it in his or her own style.
Victoria Day
It used to be held on Queen Victoria’s actual birthday of May 24, it is now celebrated on Monday preceding May 24. celebration of Queen Victoria’s birthday is marked with parades and fireworks across much of the country. It has been celebrated as an official holiday since 1845 and serves as the informal start of summer in Canada. Since it is always observed on a Monday, Victoria Day weekend is usually referred to as the May Long Weekend, or the May Long.
Canada Day
Canada Day, July 1, commemorates the day on which Canadian Confederation came into existence in 1867. This day offers an opportunity for Canadians to have large parties outdoors, and is usually celebrated with neighbourhood or family barbecues, picnics, and fireworks. Many cities organize parades, fireworks, concerts, and other events.
Remembrance Day
This day marks the date and time when armies stopped fighting World War I. on November 11 at 11 a.m. in 1918 (the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month). Canadians stop what they are doing and take a moment of silence to commemorate the soldiers that have died in wars.
Thanksgiving
Celebrated on second Monday in October, this day commemorates the traditional autumn harvest and give thanks for the wealth and bounty of the New World. The main event of Thanksgiving the ‘Thanksgiving dinner’ composed of iconic North American foods, including turkey, sweet potatoes, corn, Brussels sprouts, cranberries, and pumpkin pie. It one of the most important family days of the year.
Christmas
Celebrated on 25 December every year, this is by far the biggest holiday in Canada. There are several traditions that revolve around this time of the year, such as people decorating their houses with traditional decorations and Christmas tree, Christmas carols, and gift-giving. Children are taught that Santa Claus does, in fact, live in Canada and the Postal Services have even assigned an address and a postal code where kids can send their letters.
Boxing Day
It is a peculiar holiday celebrated on December 26, unique in Canada. On December 26, stores give the biggest discounts and Canadians rush into the most extreme shopping adventure, malls and electronics stores being the sites of particular madness.
Halloween
Celebrated on October 31, it is a day to celebrate all things scary and ghoulish. The main event is ‘trick-or-treating’, where children dress up in costumes and walk from door to door in their neighbourhoods all night and are given candies. Spooky decorations of pumpkins, skeletons, witches, and other such creatures popping up everywhere, particularly in schools, department stores, and bars can be seen.
Labor Day
Celebrated on the first Monday in September and has been enacted by the Canadian Parliament as a holiday that acknowledges the workers’ contribution to the development of the country. It is traditionally celebrated with union-organized parades and picnics, particularly in Ontario where the holiday originated.
As we all know there are many Indians living in Canada, thus they also celebrate Indian festivals there. Among all, mostly celebrated festivals of India in Canada are Diwali, Holi, Durga Puja EID etc
British Columbia is densely populated by Sikhs, thus Sikh festivals like Baisakhi and Guru Nanak Jayanti can be observed there.
