Canadian Commonwealth Day

Something you don’t see or hear very often

Tonight John and Marilyn invited 20 of us Canadian Snowbirders to their home, here in Hidden Springs, to celebrate our friendship with good food and libations.  Apparently it was Canadian Commonwealth Day.  Fortunately I googled it before we went over because we didn’t have a clue what it was.  There is little public awareness of it.  The most descriptive definition I found said “Commonwealth Day is celebrated on the second Monday of March.  Commonwealth Day is the day when Commonwealth countries, which represent a quarter of all humanity, acknowledge their common bonds and the contribution of the Commonwealth of Nations to the creation of a harmonious global environment. The holiday is celebrated with a different theme every year.  The second Monday in March was chosen as Commonwealth Day because it is a day when all schools throughout the Commonwealth are in session. Commonwealth leaders agreed that the day should be used to promote knowledge of the Commonwealth, particularly among the young people of their countries. Since 1977, schools all over the Commonwealth have organized special activities to promote the understanding of the association. Many places hold events such as games, exhibitions and parties. There are folk dancers and displays of national costumes, and parades of national flags. Many children correspond with pen pals from schools in other Commonwealth countries. Such activities are mainly designed to stimulate the children's interest and make learning about the Commonwealth fun.”

Prompted by one of their guests, all of us sang the Canadian National Anthem.  Do you know all of the words?  The Canadian National Anthem was followed by God Bless America which was a patriotic song written by Irving Berlin in 1918.  Shortly after I told a few of the folks standing close by that the American National Anthem is the Star Spangle Banner.  We knew the words and were able to sing it too.