National Acadian Day
Canadians celebrate National Acadian Day because their origins are not as simple as many people may believe. Canada used to be two colonies, and the other was in the Acadian region. It explains a lot about why there are parts of Canada where French is on the tip of the tongue. To take a deeper look at this day which falls on August 15th, we have surmised events below.
What Is National Acadian Day?
This is a day to celebrate the history of the Acadians. Settling in what is now Nova Scotia in 1605, the French became the first settlement in North America to stay permanently. It was over a hundred years later that thousands of Acadians had to leave their homes and settle elsewhere as part of the Great Upheaval. The Acadians had their own French dialect that is unique to them and is still spoken in small districts.
After they left, many Acadians never returned, but some did. National Acadian Day was declared a national day in 1881 but officially recognised by Queen Elizabeth II in 2003. Nowadays, Acadians mostly live in certain districts such as Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and New Brunswick. There are also populations in Quebec as well as some US states.
The British conquered Arcadia in 1710, a time where many fled. A large portion was reported after, many settling in Louisiana where many can be found living today. After going through a lot over the years, their culture and history are observed on August 15th throughout Canada. For many who have never heard of this colony before, it can be an excellent time to educate yourself on the trials and tribulations of the colony.
How To Obsevre National Acadian Day
For Acadians, the biggest festival is Titamere. This is held in New Brunswick in the city of Caraquet and the people make themselves known. The festivities involve walking the streets using instruments of all kinds to make lots of noise.
Other ways involve trying to learn some of the languages, the dialect is different from your typical French and unique to the people of Arcadia. Why not try some of their cuisines, there is a popular Chicken Soup known as Chicken fricot – recipes are easy to find online.
If you happen to be in Canada around this time, and near Prince Edward Island, there is an Arcadian museum, as well as one in Louisiana. The hashtag #NationalAcadianDay is another useful resource for finding out more about the day. It is where people will be sharing their pictures and stories of their celebrations so it should be good for inspiration.
Spread awareness using the hashtag even if there aren’t celebrations in your home town. Other celebrations in Arcadian communities include open-air festivals with music and a chance to observe the day. As well as this, cultural festivals will be happening around Canada, and the day is observed in all corners, even those without large Arcadian communities.