Customs and traditions of Canada

Hallo, dear teachers and classmates! We’d like to tell you about some customs and traditions of Canada.  It is the world's second-largest country (after Russia), and is the largest country in North America. The capital of Canada is Ottawa. ['?t?w?]. The biggest city is Toronto [t?'r?nt?u]. People in Canada speak English and French. The population is 35 mln people.

Canada is often connected with three key images—hockey, the beaver, and the dress uniform of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Hockey, often described as Canada's national sport, is competitive team sport. Although most Canadians don’t play hockey in any serious way, but it is still a key cultural symbol.

 The beaver often appears on Canadian souvenirs and it’s a national symbol. What gives the beaver its special value as a cultural symbol, that  these animals are hard-working and can create nests out of mud [грязь] and twigs [ветки].  

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police is famous, too. Its uniform includes a tight-fitting red coat, riding pants, high black boots, and broad-brimmed felt hat. It symbolizes cooperation, patience, order and stability of the Canadians.

FOOD OF THE CANADIANS  The favorite foods of Canadians differ a little from region to region. Along the Atlantic coast, seafood and dishes  from English traditions are common. In Quebec, favorite dishes come from the French traditions. Maple syrup and maple products are very popular. Many families enjoy a visit in early spring to a maple sugar "shack," the special building where juice from maple trees is boiled in a large open pan to make maple syrup.

 Later in the spring, many people in Eastern Canada visit a wooded area to harvest [собирать урожай] fiddleheads. Fiddleheads are the tasty new sprouts of woodland ferns [папоротник]. They are a spring specialty ['spe?(?)lt?] [особенность], usually available for just a few weeks in spring.

On the 1^st of July Canadians celebrate Canada Day. Canadians celebrate it with picnics and fireworks, parades, carnivals, festivals, barbecues, air shows, and free musical concerts, as well as citizenship ceremonies for new citizens.. Everything has the patriotic colour scheme of Canada's red and white maple leaf flag.  A common treat [угощение] is the nanaimo bar, a sweet bar cookie made in layers. ['le??]. A common dessert [d?'z??t] for Canada Day celebration is  a sheet cake, decorated with strawberries to represent Canada's Maple Leaf flag design.

Every 3^rd Sunday of June Canadians celebrate Father's Day. Children make some cards and presents for their dads to give thanks for the upbringing and help in every situation. People spend time with their families. This holiday shows how important is father’s interest and active participation in children’s life.

Canadian Thanksgiving is celebrated on the second Monday in October. Traditionally, Thanksgiving Day in Canada is a family holiday. Thanksgiving is also a time for charity. The original idea of this holiday is to give thanks for the past harvest season but for many Canadian families the tradition has changed over time and the focus is now to get together with family and eat a large turkey dinner. Apple cider [сидр] is a must for any traditional thanksgiving celebration as well as turkey stuffing and pumpkin pie.

There are a lot of other customs and traditions in Canada. And we believe that it is worth studying them and visiting this picturesque and interesting country!!! Do you have any questions? We do!

What is the capital of Canada? What languages do Canadians speak? Name three key images of Canada. Do you know any traditional Canadian food? When do Canadians celebrate Canada day? What do people do on Father’s day? What do Canadians eat on Thanksgiving Day?