Monday, May 24, 2010

Victoria Day



Americans, by the grace of god and an act of Congress, are exempt from knowledge of the metric system, or anything Canadian.

According to an unscientific poll I conducted last week, fewer than 1 in 10 Americans had any idea who the king and queen of Canada were. Only 4 in 10 knew the official currency was the Euro. 6 of the 10 believed Canada was in line to become the 51st state, just after Puerto Rico. Most significantly, 5 of 10 were able to locate it on a map, in under 3 tries.

Today, is Victoria Day in Canada. For English Canada it marks the celebration of the British monarch's official birthday. It also unofficially marks the beginning of the summer social season. None of that "white shoe rule" stuff for them. With the risk of frost over, gardeners in southern Canada use the date to begin spring planting. Northern Canadians use the day to bathe. Gotta be quick, summer is not long.

Fall begins June 1.

For a serious look at our northern neighbors take a look see here. They have a great deal to teach us, despite the fact their tomatoes do not have the shelf life of broom sticks.

Oh, Canada...

Toad

9 comments:

Shelley said...

Followed your link and learned loads! Thanks for sharing (I didn't realise the Euro was used in Canada!)

Martha said...

Unfortunately, we Americans know little about our neighbor to the North. Thanks for the Link.

Suburban Princess said...

Shelley - it's not. We have our own currency in Canada.

ms. mindless said...

Wow. I am one of the masses knowing NOTHING about Canada. I have been to a few Canadian cities, but I remember the cold and the accents most!

Toad said...

Shelley, sorry about that Euro thingee. How was I to know?

James said...

Isn't Alan Thicke the King of Canada?

Toad said...

No, Alex Trebec

Unknown said...

Canada is an okay place but Toronto is a dump. Full of people with a huge chip on their shoulder - the city and its masses think they live in NYC but Toronto ain't NYC. Heck, it ain't even Chicago. I cannot wait to move back to Boston.

Anonymous said...

When did Canada switch to the Euro?