Do you know
discovery day is celebrated twice in a year on different dates and in different
provinces? Why? Check out the significance of the discovery day which is
celebrated in Newfoundland and Labrador here. - Brought to you by PartsAvatar Auto parts.
Well, Discovery
day is celebrated by different provinces in Canada twice on different dates.
Those provinces are newfound land, Labrador and Yukon. But most of us, don’t
know the difference between them.
In this article,
my purpose is to highlight the major facts about newfound land and Labrador’s
discovery day which is celebrated on June 26. Also covered in this article are
some facts about discovery day celebrated in Yukon. So, Take a look.
A look at the past!
New found land
and Labrador distinguish itself from other Canadian provinces by celebrating
discovery day on a different calendar date. Discovery day also known as Cabot
Day commemorates John Cabot’s arrival to Newfoundland which marked the first
discovery of the Canadian province in 1497.
Cabot left
Europe on May 20, 1497, aboard his vessel, The Matthew, and landed in present
day Bonavista on June 24, 1497. He sailed from England in hopes of reaching
Asian continent but instead he reached present day Newfoundland.
Residents of
Newfoundland and Labrador celebrate this day each year near June 24 to
commemorate John Cabot’s first expedition.
Discovery day is
a provincial holiday in Canada and is a paid holiday for government employees
in Newfoundland and Labrador. It is a good opportunity for those who want to
explore the beauty of Newfoundland.
Take a look at
some compelling facts about this day and Newfoundland.
Discovered by John Cabot
As read above
Newfoundland was discovered by John Cabot on June 24, 1497. So, it is also
called Cabot day. Although john Cabot claimed the land for England, his name
was actually Giovanni Cabotto and he was born in Italy.
Different date in Newfoundland and Labrador
Discovery day is
also celebrated in Yukon on every Monday in August. But in Newfoundland and
Labrador, it is observed every year near June 24. It commemorates Giovanni
Cabotto also known as John Cabot and its history is entirely different from
Yukon.
Discovery day in Yukon
In Yukon,
discovery day goes back into the era when George Washington Carmack learnt
about the presence of Gold at Bonanza Creek in Yukon on 17 august, 1896.
This discovery
prompted traders and miners in North America to get interested in gold. However, the boom was brief with the
introduction of power driven mining methods which replaced miners.
Do you know why Cabot named it Newfoundland?
John Cabot was
certain that he is heading over to Asia. In fact, in sailed in hopes of
reaching Asian continent. Upon discovery of the land, Cabot named it
Newfoundland after realizing that he had not reached Asia. Hope he found Asia
afterwards!
Residents speak unique English dialect
John Cabot not
only discovered Newfoundland but also influenced its language. Even today, the
natives of Newfoundland and Labrador speak a unique dialect of English called
Newfinese. This dialect stems from island isolation and the interaction between
French, Irish and English that was brought with European settlers.
Friendly and approachable people say hello in their distinctive accents which is a treasure from their irish and english forefathers. At christmas time its not uncommon to bump into traditional mummers, locals dressed in outlandish disguises visiting from houses to houses laughing, singing and dancing!
Read the Race to the new world to learn more!
If you are
interested in John Cabot and his discoveries, then you should read “The race to
the new world” by Douglas Hunter.
Visit Bonavista, where Cabot landed
John Cabot
landed in Bonavista on his ship called “the Matthew”. The present day town has
a full size floating replica of the Matthew which attracts loads of tourists.
The picturesque
coastal town of Bonavista is surrounded by cliffs, icebergs, scenery and a
light house. Unleash your inner explorer and visit Bonavista for some great
adventure just like John Cabot. Imagine how the explorer might have felt on his epic voyage to North America.
Catch a glimpse of 10000 year old icebergs from the top of the Cape Bonavista light house historic site, and look out over the horizon where our light keepers have stood since 1840s.
Whales, seabirds and icebergs are usual guests along the amazing shorelines surrounded by dense trees.
Dance to Irish- French
tunes!
Popular artists
from Newfoundland and Labrador including Great Big Sea, Shanneyganock and the Irish
descendants mesmerize the crowd with the music which is mixture of Irish,
English and Cornish traditions.
Don’t forget to
try Newfoundland culinary dishes such as Tinned cream, fish ‘n’ brewis or
corned beef and cabbage with a twist.
Learn culture and sports!
It has been a
good opportunity for artists, athletes and organizations to get a chance to
present their ideas on this day. Additionally, this day provides an opportunity
to learn history and culture of Canada. Celebratory events include outdoor
concerts, historical characters and various art and cultural activities.
Other
attractions include the kids walking parade, talent shows and motorcade
involving 100 cars.
Discovery day symbol in Yukon
In Newfoundland
and Labrador, the Matthews is the major symbol of discovery day. But in Yukon,
discovery day is symbolized by a flag consisting three vertical sections. The
green section represents forest; white section represents snow and deep blue
section represents rivers and lakes in Yukon.
The section on
the center signifies the coat of arms and floral emblem represents the
fireweed.
Activities that mark Discovery day in Yukon
On discovery day
in Yukon, several family friendly activities, tournaments and festivals are
organized. People, specially visit Dawson city to view historic street theatre
and watch photo Mounties also known as the royal Canadian mounted police in
full uniform.
Dawson city is
the center of Klondike gold rush and Whitehorse, the capital of Yukon.
So, if you want
some different experience this summer, then why not try Newfoundland! Its
beauty and picturesque landscape won’t disappoint and it has a lot to offer!
In the end,
Enjoy Discovery day and discover your inner explorer!!
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