Does N. Maine observe any Canada holidays? (Houlton: sales, houses)

[movintime]

& vice-versa?

Interesting convo my buddy & I are having today, re whether the French-speaking areas relate to any Canada holidays vs USA ones? I say many do there, & here in AZ we're celebrating Turkey Day, but Canada is business-as-usual. They have T-day in Oct., I think. So though we have man similar holidays, they never seem cued on same calendar day. Thx all for some feedback on this random topic.

[Purplecow]

Originally Posted by movintime

& vice-versa?

Interesting convo my buddy & I are having today, re whether the French-speaking areas relate to any Canada holidays vs USA ones? I say many do there, & here in AZ we're celebrating Turkey Day, but Canada is business-as-usual. They have T-day in Oct., I think. So though we have man similar holidays, they never seem cued on same calendar day. Thx all for some feedback on this random topic.

I was sorta kinda hopin' the stores in Edmunston would have Black Friday sales (in French, Vendredi Fou, or "Crazy" Friday). The weather is confining me, at least, to online shopping today. Local KMart and a regional (great!) thrift store, Marden's, will also be getting my business.

It's cool watching the French commercials for "Vendredi Fou."

[canadian citizen]

movingtime:

On general, public holidays in Canada are different from those in the USA, with a few that match up.

The obvious matches are Christmas, New Years, and Easter.

Thanksgiving in Canada is about a month earlier, due to our shorter growing season for agricultural products. Our Thanksgiving tradition goes back to the early French habitants, who were barely able to survive the winters , during the first generation that came here. It was known as the season of good cheer .

Now for the public holidays that are not the same as in the USA. Victoria Day ( the closest Monday to the 24th of May ) Canada Day July the first. Civic Holiday ( the first Monday in August ). Labour Day, (the first Monday in September ). Halloween October 31st. Remembrance Day ( November the 11th ) and Boxing Day ( December 26th ).

In addition some of the Provinces have holidays that are unique to them. In Quebec, ST Jean Baptiste Day, and in Alberta Heritage Day, and in Newfoundland and Labrador, the first of July is a solemn day, to remember the all most complete destruction of the Royal Newfoundland Regiment at Beaumont Hamel in 1916, during the Great War. 62 out of 870 men came back, commanded by a Corporal, as all of the Officers and the senior NCO's had been killed in the attack. Every town in the Province lost somebody.

Boxing day is not related to sport.....it was the day that British tradesmen who served the great houses, got their presents, in a box, usually wrapped in red paper, with a white ribbon. Today its a discount day at many Canadian retailers.

Jim B. In Toronto.

[bangorme]

I'm not aware of northern Maine people celebrating any Canadian holidays, other than those we share (as stated earlier).

[movintime]

Thx all so far for your replies. Guess I'm wrong as I thought since many have Acadian heritage there, they'd be apt to side w/ Canadian holidays as well. I realize the stores/businesses/US Gov't offices alike, won't observe it legally, yet thought maybe the folks did more so. Ok, it was just a random idea I had & my buddy agreed w/ you all. Ok, onto the next subject randomly popping into my head, haha.

[Purplecow]

Movintime, before you move on , you might be interested in this: Acadian World Congress - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Scroll down to Maine and Aroostook County.

[Northern Maine Land Man]

There is a big difference between Acadian and Maritime culture. Boxing day has nothing to do with pugilism. It has to do with boxing up the leftovers so they don't go to waste. The boxes are given to relatives, or neighbors.

[movintime]

Again thx all of you & either way -- the more French culture in the USA, the more better I feel, since I live in US not Europe -- yet, haha, if only I could tho go live abroad & had the money to do so. I'd be long gone... hehee.

[Purplecow]

Originally Posted by movintime

Again thx all of you & either way -- the more French culture in the USA, the more better I feel, since I live in US not Europe -- yet, haha, if only I could tho go live abroad & had the money to do so. I'd be long gone... hehee.

Are you in Northern Maine, or near Houlton's border crossing? I'm trying to get up the nerve to take a trip to Moncton on the next weekend with nice weather. It is LOTS of fun hearing French speakers in the border towns, and you really do learn a lot just by crossing the border. Yesterday at the Dollarama, I heard a busy cashier shout to her colleagues, "Eh bien! A la caisse!" I did not know the word for cash register before that moment, but I left knowing it. I also didn't know the phrase for "parking ticket," but a shop where I went told me it's "billet de stationnement."

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by NewNorthMainer

Are you in Northern Maine, or near Houlton's border crossing? I'm trying to get up the nerve to take a trip to Moncton on the next weekend with nice weather. It is LOTS of fun hearing French speakers in the border towns, and you really do learn a lot just by crossing the border. Yesterday at the Dollarama, I heard a busy cashier shout to her colleagues, "Eh bien! A la caisse!" I did not know the word for cash register before that moment, but I left knowing it. I also didn't know the phrase for "parking ticket," but a shop where I went told me it's "billet de stationnement."

Also ''contravention'' (applies to any ticket for any type of violation, speeding, parking, etc.).

In slang you may also hear ''tzee-kett".