Canadian Holidays, through a Heathen Lens
I was recently talking to someone in the USA about how they were trying to find the meaning in American holidays from a Heathen perspective. They were trying to be mindful of the colonial history of America and working to moving past that. It got me thinking about how that might look in Canada. Holidays about belonging to a nation or group of people, but how do we feel that sense of belonging when we are ourselves outside of the over-culture? How do we reconcile our shared colonial history as modern inclusive Heathens in Canada?
If you are not familiar with Canadian Holidays, there are very few, and even less which are actually days off of work. Some days are provincially recognized only or have different names in different provinces even if they fall on the same day. The majority of days are either Christian or colonial in origin. So let’s take a look:
Remembrance Day - November 11th
This is a day to honour those who died in war, and honour veterans. What some people may not know is there is actually a Remembrance Week, which includes a day to honour Indigenous Veterans on November 9th. November 11th is just the day off each year.
There isn’t much stretching that needs to be done to make this observation Heathen, since ancestor veneration is a huge part of our religion.
Christmas Day - December 25th
This is the very Christian holiday, celebrating Christ’s birthday. Interestingly, the day was actually moved to this day historically, likely to be close to Winter Solstice traditions of various Pagan groups.
For Heathens, Yule occurs on different days depending on tradition, so it may occur anywhere from December 20th to the end of January/beginning of February depending on the year. Most Heathens recognize a season of Yule (or Yuletide) in addition to a day or days of observance. Many Heathens also have Christian family members and may observe Christmas with their families as family is very important in Heathenry. The celebration of Yule includes gift giving and feasting, similar to Christmas.
Boxing Day - December 26th
Boxing Day is a holiday in Canada with its roots in feudal England. The idea was the Lords would give their servants a box of goods this day to thank them for their service over the past year. In modern times in Canada, it acts as a recovery day after Christmas and there are also Boxing Day (or Boxing Week) sales, similar to Black Friday, but on a smaller scale. People may also use this day to go outside or to watch a hockey game.
Making this Heathen isn’t really difficult as many Heathens recognize a need in the dark time of year to slow down the pace and spend time at home or with family.
New Year - January 1st
The celebration of the new year in the Gregorian calendar, with the celebrations mostly taking place on December 31st, and January 1st being the day for recovery from the festivities.
Not all Heathens use a Gregorian calendar in their practice, but it is still necessary for business. I have not met any Heathens so far who seem opposed to the celebration of this holiday.
Civic Holiday/Family Day - Third Monday in February
This is a Civic Holiday which has different names in each province. Family Day is one of the more popular choices for names among provinces.
In Manitoba, it is called Louis Riel Day. It is a day to spend with family. In my own hearth tradition I usually bake sugar cookies shaped like bison and may visit Louis Riel’s grave at St. Boniface Cathedral. Many people in Winnipeg visit this site year round and may leave gifts there. I see Louis Riel as an ancestor of place.
St. Patrick's Day - Monday closest to March 17th (NL only)
Having not lived in Newfoundland I cannot speak to how this is celebrated there. It is observed across Canada, but is not officially a holiday in most provinces. It is the feast day and anniversary of the death of St. Patrick of Ireland, famous for driving the “snakes” from Ireland. This has not been popular in Pagan/Heathen communities for the reason that said “snakes” were thought to be Pagans.
I personally have a complicated relationship with this day, as one of the few meaningful traditions my family had growing up had to do with St. Patrick’s day and leprechauns blessing the milk on that day. So in my hearth practice it is a celebration of the other-than-humans, despite its sordid associations.
Good Friday/Easter - Easter Sunday is the Sunday after the Full Moon after the Vernal Equinox
In most provinces Good Friday is a public holiday but Easter Monday may not be, so it is either a 3 or 4 day weekend depending where in Canada you live.
Obviously this is a Christian holiday to do with the death and resurrection of Jesus. Heathens have an interesting relationship with this holiday.
Most Heathens still have family who celebrate Easter, so many will observe this weekend with family in some way. Others may celebrate Ostara (a more broadly Pagan holiday) at this time rather than at the Vernal Equinox. Ostara often has similar elements to Easter with eggs, rabbits, etc as symbols of fertility. Others may be celebrating Sigrblot around the same time depending on the year (as Sigrblot is the Full Moon after the New Moon after the Vernal Equinox.) Sigrblot is the celebration of Victory, either asking for victory in the summer battle/agricultural season, or celebrating victory over winter depending on the traditions of different Heathens or Heathen groups.
St. George's Day - Monday closest to April 23rd (NL only)
This celebration commemorates the life of Christian martyr and Roman Soldier St. George. This is not a widely recognized day in Canada, but is a holiday in Newfoundland.
Surprisingly there are Pagan/Heathen connections to this day in Rune Rasmussen’s book The Nordic Animist Year. He writes: “ On St. George’s Day people would walk into the woods shouting to St George and St Martin to take in their dogs ‘because now at Valborg we will let ours out’.” St. George and St Martin were seen as representatives of winter and connected to the Wild Hunt. By asking the Wild Hunt to take in their dogs, summer can now begin.
Victoria Day - last Monday before May 25th
Victoria Day has been observed in Canada since approximately 1845, originally on Victoria's natural birthday, May 24th. The same date is also, since 1952, recognized as the currently reigning Canadian monarch's official birthday (though, previously, marked on each monarch's actual birthday). In Quebec, it is instead National Patriots' Day. In Modern times, Victoria Day weekend is unofficially called May 2-4 weekend, a 2-4 being a 24 pack of beer. It is observed as the start of BBQing season. Obviously, the colonial roots of this holiday are highly problematic, and it would be better if the official name of this holiday was changed.
For Heathens, in addition to celebrating May 2-4 with a BBQ, depending on region, the May long weekend is considered the time when it is safe to plant outside without risk of frost. To me, this brings to mind the Pennsylvania Dutch Urglaawe tradition in which the Reifries (Frost Giants) continue to attack until mid-May.
National Indigenous Peoples Day - June 21st
While National Indigenous Peoples Day is not a public holiday, it is a National observance. National Indigenous Peoples Day is celebrated on the summer solstice. The longest day holds deep cultural and spiritual significance for many Indigenous peoples, symbolizing a new season of life, a chance to start fresh and leave past burdens behind.
Many Heathens may also recognize the Summer Solstice in their practice for similar reasons. It is important to recognize the land on which we are living and the people who walked on it before us. It is also important to recognize National Indigenous Peoples Day as Heathens, and continue to support our Indigenous allies throughout the year.
Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day/Fête nationale du Québec - June 24th (Quebec only)
In Quebec this is the feast of nativity of St Jean Baptiste, but has taken on greater significance as the National Holiday of Quebec. (A celebration of being French-Canadian.)
For Heathens in Quebec this is likely to be an important day for celebrating ancestors and French Canadian heritage.
Discovery Day - Monday closest to June 24th (NL only)
This is a holiday in Newfoundland that commemorates the “discovery” of Newfoundland by John Cabot in 1497. To understand the idea of “discovery” in colonialism we need to know about the Doctrine of Discovery and Terra Nullius.
The Doctrine of Discovery was a series of declarations (papal bulls) by popes in the 15th century that provided religious authority for Christian empires to invade and subjugate non‐Christian lands, peoples, and sovereign nations. This allowed Christians to impose Christianity on these populations, and claim their resources and were used by European empires to justify colonial expansion. The Vatican formally repudiated the 15th-century Doctrine of Discovery, in April of 2023.
Terra Nullius is a term that refers to a “nobody's land.” It is a term used in public international law to describe a space that can be inhabited but that does not belong to a state, meaning the land is not owned by anyone. Terra nullius is problematic because historically the Church painted Indigenous people as being less than human in order to take their land and subjugate them. Language repudiating the doctrine of discovery and terra nullius was included in UNDRIP legislation, that passed in June 2021.
The best way for us to observe Discovery Day perhaps is to educate ourselves on our shared colonial history.
Canada Day - July 1st
Canada Day commemorates the Confederation of Canada on July 1st, 1867. It is usually celebrated with celebrations in parks across Canada, BBQs, fireworks, and the wearing of red and white or Canadian flags. More recently there has been a movement to wear orange to recognize the Indigenous children who died at residential schools in Canada.
Most Heathens recognize Canada Day in some way. It is important to understand our shared history in this country and carefully weigh the positive and negative aspects of this day.
Nunavut Day - July 9th (NT only)
Nunavut Day is the day the Parliament of Canada passed the Nunavut Act in 1999. It officially declared Nunavut as a distinct region that is legally separate from the Northwest Territories. Nunavut means “our land” in the Inuit language of Inuktitut.
This would be an important date for Heathens in Nunavut as it celebrates the land and peoples of that Territory.
Civic Holiday - First Monday in August
This day has different names in different provinces and territories. It is generally celebrated as a weekend for camping, trips to the lake, and BBQs by Canadian families. In Manitoba, it is Terry Fox Day and commemorates Terry Fox’s run across Canada to bring awareness about cancer and cancer research.
Many Heathens celebrate this day with their families, and it doesn’t really need any extra thought to contextualize within Heathenry.
Labour Day - First Monday in September
Labour Day celebrates the rights of workers with a day off. It is also usually the last long weekend before school starts in many parts of Canada. It is commemorated with last camping trips, or trips to the lake.
Again, this weekend doesn’t really need to be contextualized more within Heathenry.
National Day for Truth and Reconciliation - September 30th
This day is also known as Orange Shirt Day. It is recognized by wearing orange. The reason for orange shirts is because of the story of Phyllis Webstad, who wore an orange shirt on her first day of residential school and was forced to take it off and then it was taken from her and not given back. Her story symbolizes the experiences of Indigenous children in residential school. This day is also associated with the phrase, “Every child matters.”
This day is an important day for all Canadians, including Heathens, to learn more about the residential school system and about the treatment of Indigenous Peoples, in order to move towards Reconciliation.
Thanksgiving Day - Second Monday in October
The Canadian Thanksgiving is a lot more chill than the US Thanksgiving, with small gatherings of friends and family. The first Canadian Thanksgiving may have happened in 1578, when Sir Martin Frobisher sailed from England to Newfoundland. He celebrated safe passage over the ocean with his crew with a meal of salt beef, mushy peas, and biscuits. Canadian Thanksgiving as a tradition started in 1859 when Protestant leaders called on the colonial government to create a day for giving thanks. Thanksgiving Day in Canada is linked to the European tradition of harvest festivals with symbols of fruits and vegetables, corn, wheat and the cornucopia depicting the bounty of the season. Turkeys are common symbols of Thanksgiving but some families may eat other foods such as the French Canadian meat pie tourtiere, or foods from the family's cultural heritage. In Quebec, Thanksgiving is called “Action de Grâce” but may not be celebrated at all by certain families. For Indigenous peoples in Canada it has become increasingly difficult to ignore the holiday's colonial undertones: stories of the first pilgrims in the United States who were greeted by Indigenous people with dinner and help to survive, but subsequently took advantage of Indigenous peoples and committed atrocities against them.
For many Heathens, Thanksgiving celebrates family, and the harvest and may be close to Heathen celebrations of Winter Nights or other holidays. Winter Nights marks the end of the summer season for Heathens. There are many reasons to continue to celebrate the harvest at this time, while also being mindful of our Indigenous allies and how this celebration may be perceived. My Cree adoptive mom always wishes me a "Happy Turkey Day" but I let her take the lead on that one and what is comfortable for her.
Obviously, there is a lot to unpack here, as most of these holidays are Christian or colonial in nature. Creating new and meaningful traditions for ourselves, and our families, that also respect and honour Indigenous communities in Canada is a process of healing for all of us. It will take time and the mindfulness of many people to come up with new ways to honour Canadian culture in a respectful way that benefits all.
Further Reading:
Five Ways to Mark Indigenous Peoples Day on June 21
The Doctrine of Discovery
Governments to repudiate Doctrine of Discovery and terra nullius and reform laws that rely on such concepts
Oh Canada by Jordan Hart
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yENWk-8zhCE
Orange Shirt Day
http://www.orangeshirtday.org/
Image Source:
Canada Day from Winnipeg Free Press
