OVERVIEW OF CANADA DAY
Canada Day (French: Fête du Canada) is Canada's national holiday. It is celebrated on July 1.
HISTORY OF CANADA DAY
It celebrates the creation of the Dominion of Canada through the British North America Act 1867, which came into effect on July 1, 1867, uniting three British territories — the Province of Canada (southern Ontario and southern Quebec), Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick — into a federation. (See Canadian Confederation.)
The holiday itself was formally established in 1879 and was originally called Dominion Day, making reference to the Canadian-originated term 'dominion' to describe the political union, at a time when the Fathers of Confederation were hesitant to use a name such as the Kingdom of Canada. The name was changed to Canada Day on October 27, 1982.
It is a federal holiday also celebrated by all provincial governments and most businesses across Canada. Quebec also has Moving Day on July 1st, due to the fact that most leases there begin and end on that day, where lots of people move and change residences. In Newfoundland and Labrador, July 1 is also recognised as Memorial Day and commemorates Newfoundland's heavy losses during World War I in the Battle of Beaumont Hamel as part of the Battle of the Somme.
CANADA DAY TRIVIA
The celebrations in Ottawa are particularly lavish. Every Canada Day, hundreds of thousands gather on Parliament Hill to celebrate Canada's birth. Canadian flags abound, and some go as far as to paint their faces in Canadian colours.
Source: The English Wikipedia
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