Why we celebrate
A holiday is a special day of celebration or remembrance. Holidays help us remember important events, honour people, celebrate culture and spend time together. Some are statutory holidays: official public holidays set by law, when many people get the day off.
Canada’s holidays reflect its history, its Indigenous peoples, its French and English roots, and its many cultures.
National holidays and special days
| Date | Holiday | What it’s about |
|---|---|---|
| January 1 | New Year’s Day | the start of a new year |
| 3rd Monday of February (several provinces) | Family Day / Louis Riel Day (MB) / Islander Day (PE) / Heritage Day (NS) | spending time with family; honouring local history |
| February 15 | National Flag of Canada Day | the Maple Leaf flag (1965) |
| March or April | Good Friday and Easter | Christian holidays |
| Monday before May 25 | Victoria Day | Queen Victoria’s birthday; also called Journée nationale des patriotes in Quebec |
| June 21 | National Indigenous Peoples Day | celebrating First Nations, Inuit and Métis cultures on the summer solstice |
| June 24 | Fête nationale du Québec (Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day) | Quebec’s national holiday |
| July 1 | Canada Day | Confederation in 1867 |
| 1st Monday of August | Civic Holiday (names vary) | a summer long weekend |
| August 1 | Emancipation Day | the abolition of slavery in the British Empire in 1834 |
| 1st Monday of September | Labour Day | honouring workers |
| September 30 | National Day for Truth and Reconciliation | remembering residential school children and Survivors; Orange Shirt Day |
| 2nd Monday of October | Thanksgiving | giving thanks for the harvest |
| November 11 | Remembrance Day | honouring those who served and died in wars |
| December 25–26 | Christmas and Boxing Day | Christian holiday; gift-giving |
Which days are statutory holidays depends on the province or territory.
Remembrance Day
On November 11 at 11 a.m., Canadians pause for two minutes of silence. Remembrance honours the people who served and died in the First and Second World Wars, the Korean War, Afghanistan and peacekeeping missions. People wear red poppies, inspired by the poem "In Flanders Fields" by Canadian doctor John McCrae (1915).
Indigenous celebrations
- National Indigenous Peoples Day (June 21) features powwows, drumming, dancing, storytelling and feasts.
- National Day for Truth and Reconciliation (September 30) is a day to learn and reflect. People wear orange shirts to show that "Every Child Matters."
- Many Indigenous communities hold their own ceremonies and gatherings throughout the year.
Heritage months
A heritage month celebrates the history and contributions of a group.
| Month | Celebration |
|---|---|
| February | Black History Month |
| April | Sikh Heritage Month |
| May | Asian Heritage Month; Jewish Heritage Month |
| June | National Indigenous History Month |
| October | Women’s History Month; Islamic History Month; Latin American Heritage Month |
Cultural and religious celebrations
Because of Canada’s diversity, families celebrate many festivals: Lunar New Year, Diwali, Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha, Hanukkah, Vaisakhi, Nowruz, Christmas, Kwanzaa and more. Many cities host big public celebrations, such as Vaisakhi parades in Surrey, BC, or Caribana (the Toronto Caribbean Carnival).
Multiculturalism
In 1971, Canada became the first country to adopt an official policy of multiculturalism, recognizing that people can keep their cultural heritage while being Canadian. The Canadian Multiculturalism Act followed in 1988.
Try it yourself
- Make a calendar of Canadian holidays and heritage months for this year.
- Choose one holiday. Research its history and how people celebrate it.
- Interview a classmate or family member about a celebration that’s important to them.
- Write a short reflection: Why do you think Canada recognizes so many different celebrations?
Quick recap
- Holidays help us celebrate, remember and spend time together.
- Canada Day, Remembrance Day and Thanksgiving are major national holidays.
- National Indigenous Peoples Day and the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation honour Indigenous peoples.
- Heritage months celebrate the contributions of many groups.
- Multiculturalism means Canadians can keep and share their heritage.