Fun facts you might not have known about Canada Day and Independence Day

This weekend is kind of a big deal with Canada Day occurring on Friday, July 1, and Independence Day on Monday, July 4. While both countries are gearing up for celebrations which surely include BBQ’s, fireworks and time spent with family and friends, we thought we would compile some interesting facts for you to share. Here are 5 facts for each day to impress your friends with knowledge of our closest neighbors.

Canada Day Facts

  1. Canada was named from the Huron and Iroquois word kanata, which means village.
  1. Canada Day celebrates Confederation. On July 1, 1867, leaders from the colonies of Upper Canada (now Ontario), Lower Canada (Quebec), Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, decided to form one country, Canada.
  2. Canada Day was originally known as Dominion Day. This changed with the Canada Act on October 27, 1982.
  3. July 1 was the date set for a number of important events including: the first national radio hookup by the Canada National Railway in 1927, the flooding of the St. Lawrence Seaway in 1958, the first colour television transmission in 1966, and the establishment of O Canada as the country’s national anthem in 1980.
  4. Next year will mark Canada’s 150th anniversary of Confederation.

Independence Day Facts

  1. The Declaration of Independence was actually a letter to King George that had been written on July 2 by Thomas Jefferson. It was a formal explanation of why the Continental Congress voted to declare independence from Great Britain. It was meant to justify a revolt against the British, with a list of charges against the British king.
  2. Three presidents have died on July 4: John Adams, Thomas Jefferson and James Monroe.
  3. The 30th President, Calvin Coolidge, was born on July 4.
  4. There were just 2.5 million people living in the U.S. when the Declaration of Independence was signed.
  5. The first signature on the Declaration of Independence was John Hancock’s, with the myth that he wrote his name large enough so that King George would be able to read it without his glasses.

Bonus Fact: Since the 1950’s, Detroit, Michigan and Windsor, Ontario have celebrated both Canada (Dominion) Day and Independence Day.

We hope you enjoyed these facts and learned something new about your own country or that of your neighbor’s to the North or South. Have fun this long weekend and enjoy all the festivities!

This article was written for Amintro, the social app designed exclusively for seniors 50+ looking to make new friends and create new social circles. Sign up now at www.amintro.com.

By Christine Tompa

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