Saint Nicholas Day December 6

Santa and Marv and the Moose!

 

When Marv and I were talking about Marv's December Header (on November 30th...) Marv asked if it could have a MOOSE in it! Well,  Moose do wander through our neck of the woods in BC. 

I can just picture Marv, tail flicking with confidence, belting out a “Moose on the Highway Blues” to a big antlered audience under the stars 🌌🦌🐾.
It’s a perfect image for Marv as a troubadour, serenading a moose with trail tips and cautionary verses about late-night road crossings!

 Nd how would it begin....

I can see Marv finding Santa...stuck... 

 

On a frosty night by the highway’s glow,  
Santa cried, “Oh dear, where did Dasher go?”  
His sleigh was stalled, the stars hung loose,  
Till Marv trotted up and called to a moose:  

“Friend of the forest, strong and bright,  
Would you guide Santa’s sleigh tonight?  
The world needs cheer, the children wait—  
Come lend your antlers, it’s not too late!”  

The moose gave a nod, with a jolly snort,  
And off they flew from the snowy port.  
Marv sang a tune as the sleigh took flight,  
“Moose save Christmas on this winter night!”  

Thus this is how we got the photos!

 

Canada - Victoria Day!

 

Victoria Day (in French: Fête de la Reine, lit. 'Celebration of the Queen') is a federal Canadian public holiday observed on the last Monday preceding May 25 to honour Queen Victoria, who is known as the "Mother of Confederation". The holiday has existed in Canada since at least 1845, originally on Victoria's natural birthday, May 24. It falls on the Monday between the 18th and the 24th.

In the province of Quebec, they celebrate National Patriots' Day! The holiday was established in 2003 "to underline the importance of the struggle of the patriots of 1837–1838 for the national recognition of our people, for its political liberty and to obtain a democratic system of government." Before 2003, the Monday preceding 25 May of each year was unofficially the Fête de Dollard, a commemoration initiated in the 1920s to coincide with Victoria Day.

These 2 holidays have always been distinctly Canadian observances and continue to be celebrated across the country.

But there is MORE history! Take it away our research extraordinaire - Jo Jo! 

 

Funnily enough, 180 years ago the Queen's Birthday was created to be a common ground, between the English and French Canadians to transcend their differences. The birthday of Queen Victoria was selected to be transformed into a public holiday, as it was a date that appealed to both English and French Canadians. At the time, loyalty to the Crown was seen as a key trait that distinguished Canada from the United States and the monarchy was viewed as a "guarantor of minority rights" in the colony. The Queen's birthday was officially designated as a public holiday by legislation passed in 1845, transforming the date from a military event to a civilian holiday and making it Canada's now-oldest official holiday.

 

Marvelous with the obligatory Mountie on a Moose