How do You Spend July 4th?

When you first read that question, you immediately think - BBQ, Fireworks, dress up in Red, White and Blue and of course, sing as loud and as strong the Star Spangled Banner.  However, after living in the USA for 14 years this summer, I am still asked as a Canadian citizen, what we, as Canadians, do in Canada on July 4th!  My standard repsonse, "go to work".  Of course I quickly remind my curious friends, that on July 1st, my children and I (and even my American husband) celebrate Canada Day at our house.  (And before you get upset, yes, we also celebrate July 4th in the same patriotic manner - EVEN if we are in Canada for July 4th).

Canada Day, is a national recognised day and is a statutory federal holiday celebrating the anniversary of the  July 1st 1867, enactment of the British North America Act, which united 3 colonies into a single country called Canada within the British Empire. The 3 colonies were Nova Scotia, New Brunswick (that's my province!!!) and the Province of Canada which was then divided into Ontario and Quebec.  Originally called Dominion Day, it was changed to Canada Day in 1982. 

As Canadians, we celebrate the pride and love for our country just as Americans do for theirs - with BBQ, pool parties, camp outs, parades, fesitivals and end the night with fireworks.  We all wear our Red and White and place Maple Leaf tattoos on our cheeks.  Babies are pushed around in strollers decorated with streamers and dogs begrudgingly wear maple leaf neckerchiefs.  It's our time to wear our patrioism on our sleeve and come together as communities. 

In the 14 years I've lived in the USA, I've only celebrated Canada Day in Canada 3 or 4 times.  The most recent was last year and we had so much fun.  We sat out on the water and listened to the music coming from across the river, joined in on a bbq, and of course dressed the dog up with a neckerchief. We ended the night with the kids singing the parts of "OH Canada" that they knew and my uncle set off fireworks. 

Last year before we set off for Canada, we hosted a Canada Day party here in NJ and invited as many Canadians we knew...there were 4 of us!  We talked about the foods we can't get here in the States, the differences of growing up in a country where we hear everything in two languages and I believe we taught some of the American spouses how to curse en francais!  This year, the same 4 people have joined a group on Facebook called Canadians in New Jersey and we have connected with more like people who want to connect and share our experiences about now living in the States or maybe share information of where they found Ketchup Chips!  I'm pleased to say that this year we have about 30 people attending our 2nd Annual Canada Day party on Sunday July 1st.  While we don't really know one another, we're already connected and as you all know, Canadians are so very friendly (our group page is FULL of "yes, please" "oh sorry" and "no no, you go first"!) so I'm sure it'll be a great time getting to know one another. This party will be a place for us to celebrate the love of our Canada and to drink a nice cold Molson! 

If anyone reading this little blog of mine, is Canadian or has friends who are Canadian, please feel free to get in touch with me for more information about the party!  You can also find us on Facebook.com/CanadiansinNewJersey

Again, don't worry, on Wednesday July 4th, while our group won't gather together, we'll be sure to celebrate the USA who hosts us now and where our children and families live and work.  We understand how important and lucky we are to be a part of 2 wonderful countries.