Canada Day (01/07)

Canada Day (English. Canada Day, FR. Fête du Canada) — is the main public holiday established in honor of the unification of all North American colonies of Britain into a single dominion, Canada (the former name of the holiday — Dominion Day), based on the British North America Act, which came into force on July 1, 1867.

On this day, the first colonies of British North America —, Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia and New Bronswick, united in a confederation called the Dominion of Canada, marked the beginning of the existence of a new country.

The British North America Act, originally born to four provinces, was equally open to other colonies that entered the confederation later. Having taken over 6 more provinces one after another, Canada acquired its modern shape by the end of the 19th century. The process of final formation of Confederation was completed in 1949, when the former British Dominion of Newfoundland became Canada's tenth province. Today, in addition to ten provinces, Canada also includes three Northern Territories.

The British North America Act, which at one time marked the birth of a new state and embodied its constitution for more than a hundred years, was replaced by a new Canadian constitution in 1982. The transfer of constitutional power from Great Britain to Canada took place on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, where Queen Elizabeth II announced a new document.

Canadians celebrate their country's birthday with great enthusiasm. Many thousands of people take part in celebrations on Parliament Hill in the capital Ottawa. Traffic was blocked on the streets of Canadian cities that day. Festive ceremonies and parades, concerts and outdoor performances, and performances by choirs and orchestras are held in all parts of the country. In many cities, luxurious festive fireworks are held in the evening.

In the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada Day is celebrated as Memorial Day. On this day, residents of the province pay special honors to the memory of their compatriots killed on the battlefields of Europe during the First World War. The holiday is also celebrated outside of Canada.

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