Canada Day, Bastille Day & Swiss National Day Also Mark Celebrations
The 4th of July is America’s birthday but it’s not the only Independence Day that is celebrated in this month.
Other countries have birthdays, as well, and here’s two major ones with a third happening on Aug. 1. It’s Switzerland and since PubClub.com loves that country and the Swiss, we’re including it here.
CANADA DAY MEANING & CELEBRATIONS
July 1
This is the closest thing for Americans to the Forth of July, in distance as well as celebrating. If you just arrived in Canada for Canada Day – especially in Toronto as PubClub’s blogger did on one occasion – then you’ll thing its National Beer Day.
Canadians, you see, drink a lot of beer. Canadian beer, of course.
The date is significant because on July 1, 1867, the Constitution Act joined the provinces of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and the Canada province (which eventually split into Ontario and Quebec) to give birth to the country of Canada.
Today, there are celebrations all over the country with Toronto being the best one, at least for single people. There’s an all-day celebration at Mel Latsman Square (5100 Yonge Street) with fireworks at 11 p.m.
BASTILLE DAY, FRANCE MEANING & CELEBRATIONS
July 14
Bastille Day marks the 1789 storming of the Bastille two days after the start of the French Revolution, as well as the Fete de la Federation which celebrated the unity of the French people on 14 July 1790.
The French call is La fête nationale, or French National Day
This is celebrated throughout France with by far the biggest party taking place in Paris at and around the Arc de Triumph.
A military parade starts at 9:20 am on the Champs Elysees and will finishes at noon. The theme of the parade is “The Order of Liberation.”
There are fireworks at 11 p.m., from the the Trocadero, near the Eiffel tower. The theme is “Paris Welcomes The World.”
SWISS NATIONAL DAY MEANING & CELEBRATIONS
Aug. 1
This is the date when it was declared Switzerland became a country. It was back in 1291 (yeah, 1291!) when an alliance was formed by the three cantons of Uri, Schwyz and Unterwalden. This alliance became the focal point which created Switzerland.
Unlike in other countries, the Swiss don’t go all crazy to celebrate. The biggest celebration is at Rhine Falls near Schaffhausen. From mid-nineteenth century onwards, the waterfall is illuminated on special occasions and on Aug. 1 there’s also a massive fireworks show that attracts thousands of people.
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