What are some major celebrations or events in Canada that happen annually such as graduation prom and award ceremonies?

Answer 1

The first big weekend of the year is called Victoria Day, better known as the May 2-4, which refers not only to the date it happens, but to the fact that people buy 24's of beer, take them to the woods, and spend the weekend camping and drinking. It's the weekend the campsites open. There are always fireworks.

The Labour Day weekend is big for the same reason - last chance to camp and drink before the snow flies.

Canada Day - July 1 - always has fireworks and picnic-like events in the park, and usually some sort of outdoor concert.

Probably our biggest national party is the Grey Cup, which is the Canadian Football League championship game, in November. It's a week-long party and the fans are rabid. The game is always spectacular - WAY more exciting than the Superbowl. Often played in snow, or other extreme weather conditions, which just adds to the atmosphere. It's not a slick corporate affair - it's a real celebration by the people, for the people, with accessible events, affordable tickets, lots of mingling of players and fans, lots of drinking, and fans taking over the streets of the host city. One year a fan rode the Calgary Stampeders mascot horse into the lobby of Toronto's very posh Royal York Hotel. That's the kind of good times that is typical of Grey Cup week. This is the best game in the world, bar none.

Award ceremonies aren't the big deal here that they are in the US, but the biggest are the Junos, which are our music awards, and the Genies, (our Oscars) and Geminis (our Emmys) However, since there is no star system in Canada's film industry, the Genies and Geminis are largely ignored, and nobody knows who half the people winning them are. The East Coast Music Awards are a very big deal, because so much good music comes out of the Maritimes, and they always put on a kick-ass show.

Proms aren't the big deal here they are in America, although we do have them. We laugh at the ridiculous amounts of money kids in the US spend on proms. Ours are more low-key.

Thanksgiving here is in October. It's not as big here as in the US, but it's a good long weekend, and a good time to watch a CFL game and eat a lot of food. Not a time when families all come home from far-flung places though.