New Brunswick Day Celebrations

New Brunswick Day is a holiday celebrated in the Canadian province of New Brunswick on the first Monday of August. It is a chance for people to strengthen their local communities by celebrating their achievements, history, culture, and landscape. The day is observed with large communal meals, live music, sporting events, and other activities that are historically or culturally significant. While New Brunswick Day is celebrated on the first Monday of August, it is important to note that July 12 is also marked by celebrations in the province, known as Orangemen's Day.

New Brunswick Day

The New Brunswick Day Awards, introduced in 1991, are presented to residents, businesses, and organizations that have positively impacted and improved life in their city, town, or village. These awards recognize exceptional contributions to the province's quality of life.

The history of the area now known as the New Brunswick province dates back around 6,000 years, when it was populated by indigenous peoples of the First Nations community. In the 17th and 18th centuries, the region was colonized by the French, followed by the British.

History of New Brunswick Day

New Brunswick Day is a holiday in the Canadian province of New Brunswick, celebrated on the first Monday of August every year. It is a chance for people to strengthen their local communities by celebrating their achievements, history, culture, and landscape. The day is marked with communal meals, live entertainment and music, family activities, and sporting tournaments.

The history of New Brunswick dates back thousands of years to when First Nations communities, particularly the Maliseet, Mi'kmaq, and the Passamaquoddy, inhabited the region. In the 16th century, French explorers arrived and began settling the region as part of the colony of Acadia. In the early 18th century, an influx of Acadian refugees moved to the area after the French surrendered their claim to Nova Scotia in 1713. The British later took control of the region during the Seven Years' War, forcibly expelling many Acadians.

In 1784, the western portions of Nova Scotia were severed to form the new colony of New Brunswick, partly in response to the influx of Loyalists settling in British North America after the American Revolutionary War. During the 19th century, New Brunswick saw an influx of settlers, including formerly deported Acadians, Welsh migrants, and Irish migrants.

In 1867, New Brunswick, along with Nova Scotia and the Province of Canada, formed the Canadian Confederation. New Brunswick Day was established in 1976 and has been celebrated annually since then. The day is a statutory holiday in the province, with many people having the day off work and schools and businesses closed.

New Brunswick Day celebrations

New Brunswick Day is a holiday in the Canadian province of New Brunswick, celebrated annually on the first Monday of August. It is a chance for people to strengthen their local communities by celebrating their achievements, history, culture, and landscape. Many towns hold "birthday" parties for the province, with each community coming together to participate in cake-cutting, musical events, and sporting tournaments.

The day is marked by official celebrations in different cities across New Brunswick. In 2023, the official celebrations were held in Fredericton, with free events including children's activities, street performers, and a market. Other cities that held celebrations in 2023 include Sussex, Bathurst, Quispamsis, and Chaleur.

The holiday has been celebrated since 1976, and the New Brunswick Day Awards were introduced in 1991 to recognize individuals and organizations that have positively impacted the quality of life in the province.

The Twelfth/Orangemen's Day

The Twelfth, also known as Orangemen's Day, is a primarily Ulster Protestant celebration held annually on July 12. It commemorates the Glorious Revolution of 1688 and the victory of Protestant King William of Orange over Catholic King James II at the Battle of the Boyne in 1690, which secured Protestant dominance in Ireland. This holiday, which originated in the late 18th century, is now primarily celebrated in Northern Ireland, where it is a public holiday. However, smaller-scale celebrations also take place in other countries with Ulster or Irish Protestant connections, including Canada, where it is observed in New Brunswick.

In the lead-up to The Twelfth, loyalist marching bands hold parades and events, particularly in working-class Protestant neighbourhoods. On the night before, known as "Eleventh Night," towering bonfires are lit, accompanied by street parties and loyalist marching bands. On The Twelfth itself, large parades are organised by the Orange Order and loyalist marching bands, with participants donning traditional attire, including dark suits, Orange sashes, white gloves, and bowler hats. Streets are decorated with Union Jacks and bunting, and large bonfires are lit in loyalist neighbourhoods.

The Twelfth has a history of violence between Ulster Protestants and Catholics, particularly during times of political tension. While many Protestants view the holiday as an important part of their cultural heritage, Irish Catholic nationalists often perceive it as sectarian and triumphalist. In recent years, efforts have been made to promote the main Twelfth parades as family-friendly pageants and to attract tourists to these events.

In New Brunswick, Canada, The Twelfth is observed within the context of the province's historical connections to Ulster and Irish Protestantism. While it is not a province-wide statutory holiday, it holds significance for the local Ulster Protestant community, who organise celebrations and parades to commemorate the occasion.

Overall, The Twelfth/Orangemen's Day serves as a reminder of the historical religious and political tensions in Ireland, with ongoing implications for community relations in Northern Ireland and beyond.

The Twelfth celebrations

The Twelfth (also known as Orangemen's Day) is a primarily Ulster Protestant celebration held annually on July 12. It commemorates the Glorious Revolution of 1688 and the victory of Protestant King William of Orange over Catholic King James II at the Battle of the Boyne in 1690, which ensured Protestant dominance in Ireland. The celebration originated in the late 18th century in Ulster and has since spread to other countries with Ulster or Irish Protestant populations, including Canada.

In Canada, The Twelfth is observed mainly in Newfoundland and Labrador, where it is a public holiday. The celebration includes parades, the flying of Union Jacks and Ulster Banners, and bonfires. While The Twelfth is a significant event for Ulster Protestants, many Irish Catholics view it as sectarian and triumphalist.

In the province of New Brunswick, Canada, the first Monday in August is celebrated as New Brunswick Day, which is a statutory holiday. The day commemorates the history, culture, and achievements of the province and its people. Communities come together to participate in cake-cutting, musical events, sporting tournaments, and communal meals. New Brunswick Day has been celebrated since 1976, with the New Brunswick Day Awards, recognising individuals and organisations that improve the quality of life in the province, introduced in 1991.

Frequently asked questions