Eh! It's rochrox here with Eh: The Canada Column. I'm super-excited for all the fun stuff happening today. Can you guess why? A very special holiday for Canadians (and Canada) is today, July 1! It's Canada Day!
Do you know what Canada Day is? I was surprised to find out that not many Whyvillians knew about this important holiday!
I surveyed 30 Whyvillians asking, "Do you know what Canada Day is?" and only 10 knew, or had heard, about Canada Day!
By now you might be wondering what Canada Day is. Well, it's exactly like it sounds, a day about Canada. Canada Day marks the anniversary of Confederation, when the first provinces joined as one country. Confederation happened on July 1st, 1967, so Canada is 140 years old this year.
Canada Day is like Canada's birthday! And what do you do on someone's birthday? You celebrate! I interviewed Vancyon, to find out what his family does to celebrate Canada Day.
rochrox: What kinds of things do you do to celebrate Canada Day?
Vancyon: Well, I celebrate Canada Day in a small town on the south coast of Nova Scotia (Otherwise known as the South Shore). Every year we get up at 9, no 10:00, and head down to the wharf. A bunch of people gather to watch the braver of the crowd try to grab money hanging on the grease pole.
rochrox: The grease pole? What's that?
Vancyon: A long pole is greased, and then a fifty and two twenty dollar bills are stuck to the pole (along with many smaller bills, as well). We hang the pole off the edge of one of the wharfs, and then people slide down the pole trying to get the fifty-dollar bill. Few try for the "lowly" twenty's. Few people manage, but every once in a while when they are slipping off, they push a bill off, or they do a split.
rochrox: That sounds like fun!
Vancyon: It is. After that an international derby begins. Unfortunately I missed it this year. After watching the derby we all go to the United Church for a breakfast of strawberry shortcake, and then go to a craft show. I also play a ring-toss game (even though I always miss).
rochrox: Do you have a Canada Day parade?
Vanycon: Yes, the cars always go really slow behind the woodwinds (because they always drop the giant books attached to their tiny instruments), so we get a lot of candy thrown at us :) The firetrucks come at the end of the parade.
rochrox: LoL, that sounds like many of the parades I've been too.
Vanycon: After playing Whyville (which I'm doing now), we go to the fireworks show.
rochrox: Thanks for the interview! Have fun at the fireworks!
Vancyon: No problem, and I will. I hear they're really good this year! Bye!
In my city we have a Canada Day parade, as well as a fireworks display at night. Many people make small gestures about Canada around this weekend, such as wearing Canada shirts or having a Canadian flag on their antenna of their car. My personal favorites are painting my nails red and white and making a Canada Day cake! Be sure to tell about all your Canada Day traditions in the BBS!
This has been rochrox ~ hope your Canada Day rocks your socks!
