Holidays

Culture, History, In the News

Celebrating April Fool’s Day!

March 27, 2012, By Myriam Fontaine
april-fools

Our French editor Myriam Fontaine traces the history of April Fools, from its origins in 1534 to its current tradition in Quebec where children “run after the April Fish.”

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Au Fil Des Mots, Français

Courons le Poisson d’avril!

March 27, 2012, Par Myriam Fontaine

Sans certitude aucune, on croit que la journée du Poisson d’avril remonte en 1534 alors que le roi de France, Charles IX, changea le calendrier, pour que l’année débute alors le 1er janvier au lieu du traditionnel 1er avril.

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History

Everybody’s Irish on St. Patrick’s Day

March 14, 2012, By Laura Bonikowsky
immigrants-irish

For Canadians, St. Patrick’s Day provides an opportunity to celebrate all who struggled, perished and succeeded, trying to make a new life in a new land.

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History, Music, Music Mondays

St. Patrick’s Day: Irish Music in Canada

March 12, 2012, By Gary Cristall
st-patrick-window

Irish-Canadians have shaped a large part of Canadian culture. This St. Patrick’s Day, discover their unique history and music, including the Irish Rovers and Ryan’s Fancy. Sláinte! To your health!

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Literature, Reading In Canadian

Love, Driving Rain, and Al Purdy: “Over the Hills in the Rain, My Dear”

February 12, 2012, By Susanne Marshall
Al Purdy

“Over the Hills in the Rain, My Dear” is a poem that encapsulates the long endurance and ridiculous wonder of longtime love. What better poem for Valentine’s Day?

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Culture, History

Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree

December 21, 2011, By James Marsh
singing-tree

Discover the history of the Christmas tree, from its pagan origin to its first appearance in North America to its current status as a symbol of light and rebirth.

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Au Fil Des Mots, Français

Oh non, l’Halloween! Coeurs sensibles s’abstenir.

October 27, 2011, Par Myriam Fontaine

Comme je déteste l’Halloween ! Je me souviens de mes efforts, lorsque mes fils étaient jeunes, pour arriver à avoir une certaine contenance durant cette journée. J’aurais pu me mériter tous les Césars, Oscars et cie tellement ma performance était remarquable. Et pourtant…

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Music, Music Mondays

Music Mondays: Halloween Songs

October 24, 2011, By Cody Alan Gregory
Halloween_Songs

Get ready for some spooky Canadian tunes about zombies, ghosts, monsters and a supergroup collaboration that asks, “Do They Know It’s Halloween?” curated by musician Cody Alan Gregory.

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History

The First Thanksgiving in North America

October 10, 2011, By Laura Bonikowsky
Thanksgiving Frobisher

Discover the first Thanksgiving, held by mariner, explorer, and chaser of fool’s gold, Martin Frobisher, in the eastern Arctic in 1578.

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