December 2021
HALIFAX EXPLOSION – Memorial Services and Events
This year marks the 104th anniversary of the Halifax Explosion. In honour of this day, there will be memorial services and events throughout HRM Fort Needham Memorial Park The Municipality’s 104th Anniversary of the Halifax Explosion, an official commemoration ceremony will be held at Fort Needham Memorial Park which overlooks the area which was devastated by the explosion on that fateful morning. The service begins at 9:00 am, with a short silence just before 9:04 am. Everyone is welcome at…
Find out more »FIRST DAY OF WINTER
Winter begins today at 12:59PM Atlantic Standard Time Today is the shortest day of the year, which means that it’s the day in which we experience the least amount of daylight. Logically, it would make sense to assume that this is also the coldest day of the year, since we are exposed to less warmth-giving sunlight on this day than at any other time. But this is not true. The coldest day of the year is usually in January (something to…
Find out more »FESTIVUS
Festivus is a secular holiday celebrated on December 23 as an alternative to the pressures and commercialism of the Christmas season. Originally created by author Daniel O'Keefe, Festivus entered popular culture after it was made the focus of the 1997 Seinfeld episode "The Strike", which O'Keefe's son, Dan O'Keefe, co-wrote. The non-commercial holiday's celebration, as depicted on Seinfeld, occurs on December 23 and includes a Festivus dinner, an unadorned aluminum Festivus pole, practices such as the "Airing of Grievances" and…
Find out more »CHRISTMAS EVE
Christmas Eve is the evening or entire day before Christmas Day, the festival commemorating the birth of Jesus. Christmas Day is observed around the world, and Christmas Eve is widely observed as a full or partial holiday in anticipation of Christmas Day. Together, both days are considered one of the most culturally significant celebrations in Christendom and Western society. Christmas celebrations in the denominations of Western Christianity have long begun on Christmas Eve, due in part to the Christian liturgical…
Find out more »CHRISTMAS DAY
Christmas (or Feast of the Nativity) is an annual festival commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ, observed primarily on December 25 as a religious and cultural celebration among billions of people around the world. Popular modern customs of the holiday include: gift giving completing an Advent calendar or Advent wreath Christmas music and caroling viewing a Nativity play an exchange of Christmas cards church services a special meal, and the display of various Christmas decorations, including Christmas trees, Christmas lights,…
Find out more »BOXING DAY
Boxing Day is a holiday celebrated the day after Christmas Day, thus being the second day of Christmastide. It originated in the United Kingdom and is celebrated in a number of countries that previously formed part of the British Empire. Boxing Day is on 26 December, although the attached bank holiday or public holiday may take place either on that day or one or two days later. In Nova Scotia Boxing Day is not a statutory holiday. It is, however,…
Find out more »NEW YEAR’S EVE
In the Gregorian calendar, New Year's Eve (also known as Old Year's Day or Saint Sylvester's Day in many countries), the last day of the year, is on 31 December. In many countries, New Year's Eve is celebrated at evening parties, where many people dance, eat, drink, and watch or light fireworks. Some Christians attend a watchnight service. The celebrations generally go on past midnight into New Year's Day, 1 January. The Line Islands (part of Kiribati) and Tonga, are…
Find out more »January 2022
ROBBIE BURNS DAY
Scottish Canadians have embraced Robert Burns as a kind of patron poet and mark his birthday with festivities. 'Robbie Burns Day' is celebrated from Newfoundland to Nanaimo. A Burns supper is a celebration of the life and poetry of the poet Robert Burns (25 January 1759 – 21 July 1796), the author of many Scots poems. The suppers are normally held on or near the poet's birthday, 25 January, occasionally known as Robert Burns Day (or Rabbie Burns Day) but…
Find out more »February 2022
CHINESE NEW YEAR
The first day of Chinese New Year begins on the new moon that appears between January 21 and February 20 2022 is the Year of the Tiger. The tiger is known to be king of all beasts in China and comes third in the Chinese zodiac. The qualities associated with the tiger are competitive, self-confident, brave, willpower and strength Celebrations last up to 16 days, but only the first 7 days are considered a public holiday in China.
Find out more »GROUNDHOG DAY
Many Canadians celebrate Groundhog Day. Some Christian churches also celebrate Candlemas on this day, while others use Groundhog Day to take down their Christmas decorations. Groundhog Day is growing more and more popular in Canada. There is a festival in Wiarton, Ontario, where the town groundhog, Wiarton Willie, delivers his “prediction” early in the morning on February 2 every year... but the first (arguably the best) prognosticator is Nova Scotia's own Shubenacadie Sam! This year Sam will make his prediction…
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