CALENDAR CUSTOMS
Calendar Customs are those customs that we celebrate every year on a particular date or in a specific season. Some Calendar Customs that we celebrate on Bell Island and in other parts of Newfoundland every year are:
Old Christmas Day, Jan. 6th:
Valentine's Day, Feb. 14th: School children in the 1950s exchanged Valentine cards that were often hand-made from scribbler paper and coloured with red crayons. When times were good, we would buy "books" of Valentine cards that we would cut out and sign. Adults would attend Valentine dances and socials that were held by the local welfare (ie. fraternal) clubs.
St. Patrick's Day, Mar. 17th: Commemorates St. Patrick, the Patron Saint of Ireland. It is a provincial holiday in Newfoundland and Labrador on the nearest Monday to March 17th.
St. Patrick was a missionary in Ireland in the 5th Century and is regarded as the founder of Christianity in Ireland. March 17th is believed to be the date of his death, and is not only observed as a holy day, but a day to celebrate Ireland itself.
Addison Bown, in his "Newspaper History of Bell Island," noted that, "The St. Patrick's Night concerts, which were to be so popular an annual feature in later years, were inaugurated in St. Joseph's Hall on March 17, 1913 with 300 people present. A one-act play, 'The Wearin' O' the Green,' was staged. Over the years, the day was celebrated by adults with concerts and dances. My memory of the day in the 1950s-60s was that it was a Roman Catholic holiday, but I don't remember any events surrounding it. See more in the offshoot from this page.
Easter is the first Sunday after the first full moon in spring (after March 21st), which can occur as early as March 22 and as late as April 25: Commemorates the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. It is a shop-closing holiday in Newfoundland. See more in the offshoot from this page.
St. George's Day, April 23rd (believed to be the Saint's death date): Commemorates the Patron Saint of England. St. George's Day is a provincial holiday in Newfoundland & Labrador on the Monday closest to Apr. 23rd.
St. George is the patron saint of England, Russia, Portugal, Greece, several other European countries and many European cities. He was a cavalryman in the Roman Army in what is now Israel, and was a Christian when Rome was ruled by an anti-Christian. He was said to have "slain a dragon" that had to be given a human sacrifice daily before access could be gained to the town's water supply. In gratitude, the townspeople converted to Christianity. George was tortured and eventually suffered a martyr's death when he was beheaded for refusing to make sacrifices to the Roman gods.
In the 1950s-60s when I attended the Anglican school on Bell Island, we had a holiday from school, but I do not recall ever being told the story of St. George, only that he was the Patron Saint of England. See more in the offshoot from this page.
Victoria Day, May 24th: Commemorates the birthday of Queen Victoria (May 24, 1819). As children in the 1950s, we would chant, "The 24th of May is the Queen's birthday. If we don't get a holiday, we'll all run away." It is generally considered the beginning of the summer season.
In 1955, Victoria Day was a statutory holiday with pay and was observed on Monday, May 23rd. On that particular long weekend, there was the "unseasonable presence of Arctic ice in Conception Bay," disrupting the local ferry service on Friday evening, May 20th, preventing a number of Bell Islanders with motor cars from crossing to the mainland. The favourite May 24th Weekend activity for many years was trout fishing.
Today, Victoria Day is often called "May 24th Weekend," when many Newfoundlanders go camping, and is a federal public holiday celebrated on the last Monday preceding May 24th.
Memorial Day, July 1st: This is a Newfoundland observance that commemorates the loss of 733 soldiers of the Newfoundland Regiment during the Battle of the Somme at Beaumont-Hamel on July 1, 1916, during the First World War. It has been observed annually since July 1, 1917.
On Bell Island during the mining years, the service at the War Memorial was held on the Sunday following July 1st, so that in 1954, it was held on July 4th. Ex-service men of the World Wars I and II, and of the Korean War, members of the Army Cadet Corps (Catholic Cadet Corps), the Church Lads Brigade, accompanied by the bugle bands of the Cadet Corps and the CLB and the brass band of the Loyal Orange Association, paraded to the War Memorial where hundreds of citizens had gathered to take part in the service, which was held in respect of those who died in the cause of freedom.
Memorial Day coincides with Canada Day, which was called Dominion Day, in 1954. That year, Dominion Day was observed on Friday, July 2nd. This was by mutual agreement between the (mining) Company and the mine and office staff unions. Instead of observing the holiday on that Thursday, July 1st, all mines and departments ceased operations at 8:00 a.m. on Friday and reopened the following Monday, thus affording the majority of employees the opportunity of enjoying a three day holiday. Many employees took advantage of the long weekend by taking their families on an outing to the local mainland, while others chose to get in a day or two of fishing at their favourite pond or stream. Mainland employees enjoyed the long weekend holiday with their families and friends at home, returning to the Island Sunday evening.
Orangemen's Day, July 12th: Commemorates the Battle of the Boyne, which took place in 1690 outside Drogheda, now in the Republic of Ireland. Prince William of Orange won the battle against King James VII of Scotland (aka King James II of England & Ireland). Prince William became King William III. It is a provincial holiday in Newfoundland & Labrador on the Monday closest to July 12th. The Loyal Orange Association (LOA) would hold a parade featuring someone dressed as "King Billy" leading the parade on a white horse, suitably decorated for the occasion. Read more about Orangemen's Day and the Loyal Orange Association at https://www.historic-wabana.com/loyal-orange-association.html on this website.
Sports Day, August
Labour Day, First Monday in September. See more in offshoot from this page.
Thanksgiving: Second Monday in October. See more in the offshoot from this page.
Hallowe'en: October 31: See more in the offshoot from this page.
Bonfire Night, also called Guy Fawkes Night, Nov. 5th: Originating in England in 1605 after conspirators plotted to blow up the Houses of Parliament, Bonfire Night was never a public holiday, but a highly-anticipated evening event late in the Fall as it became darker earlier. See more in the offshoot from this page.
Remembrance Day, November 11th: The tradition of Remembrance Day evolved out of Armistice Day, which commemorated the armistice agreement that ended the First World War on Monday, November 11, 1918 at 11:00 a.m., the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month. It is a federal statutory holiday in Canada. See more in the offshoot from this page.
Christmas, December 25: See more on the offshoot from this page.
New Year's Eve: Dec. 31:
Old Christmas Day, Jan. 6th:
Valentine's Day, Feb. 14th: School children in the 1950s exchanged Valentine cards that were often hand-made from scribbler paper and coloured with red crayons. When times were good, we would buy "books" of Valentine cards that we would cut out and sign. Adults would attend Valentine dances and socials that were held by the local welfare (ie. fraternal) clubs.
St. Patrick's Day, Mar. 17th: Commemorates St. Patrick, the Patron Saint of Ireland. It is a provincial holiday in Newfoundland and Labrador on the nearest Monday to March 17th.
St. Patrick was a missionary in Ireland in the 5th Century and is regarded as the founder of Christianity in Ireland. March 17th is believed to be the date of his death, and is not only observed as a holy day, but a day to celebrate Ireland itself.
Addison Bown, in his "Newspaper History of Bell Island," noted that, "The St. Patrick's Night concerts, which were to be so popular an annual feature in later years, were inaugurated in St. Joseph's Hall on March 17, 1913 with 300 people present. A one-act play, 'The Wearin' O' the Green,' was staged. Over the years, the day was celebrated by adults with concerts and dances. My memory of the day in the 1950s-60s was that it was a Roman Catholic holiday, but I don't remember any events surrounding it. See more in the offshoot from this page.
Easter is the first Sunday after the first full moon in spring (after March 21st), which can occur as early as March 22 and as late as April 25: Commemorates the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. It is a shop-closing holiday in Newfoundland. See more in the offshoot from this page.
St. George's Day, April 23rd (believed to be the Saint's death date): Commemorates the Patron Saint of England. St. George's Day is a provincial holiday in Newfoundland & Labrador on the Monday closest to Apr. 23rd.
St. George is the patron saint of England, Russia, Portugal, Greece, several other European countries and many European cities. He was a cavalryman in the Roman Army in what is now Israel, and was a Christian when Rome was ruled by an anti-Christian. He was said to have "slain a dragon" that had to be given a human sacrifice daily before access could be gained to the town's water supply. In gratitude, the townspeople converted to Christianity. George was tortured and eventually suffered a martyr's death when he was beheaded for refusing to make sacrifices to the Roman gods.
In the 1950s-60s when I attended the Anglican school on Bell Island, we had a holiday from school, but I do not recall ever being told the story of St. George, only that he was the Patron Saint of England. See more in the offshoot from this page.
Victoria Day, May 24th: Commemorates the birthday of Queen Victoria (May 24, 1819). As children in the 1950s, we would chant, "The 24th of May is the Queen's birthday. If we don't get a holiday, we'll all run away." It is generally considered the beginning of the summer season.
In 1955, Victoria Day was a statutory holiday with pay and was observed on Monday, May 23rd. On that particular long weekend, there was the "unseasonable presence of Arctic ice in Conception Bay," disrupting the local ferry service on Friday evening, May 20th, preventing a number of Bell Islanders with motor cars from crossing to the mainland. The favourite May 24th Weekend activity for many years was trout fishing.
Today, Victoria Day is often called "May 24th Weekend," when many Newfoundlanders go camping, and is a federal public holiday celebrated on the last Monday preceding May 24th.
Memorial Day, July 1st: This is a Newfoundland observance that commemorates the loss of 733 soldiers of the Newfoundland Regiment during the Battle of the Somme at Beaumont-Hamel on July 1, 1916, during the First World War. It has been observed annually since July 1, 1917.
On Bell Island during the mining years, the service at the War Memorial was held on the Sunday following July 1st, so that in 1954, it was held on July 4th. Ex-service men of the World Wars I and II, and of the Korean War, members of the Army Cadet Corps (Catholic Cadet Corps), the Church Lads Brigade, accompanied by the bugle bands of the Cadet Corps and the CLB and the brass band of the Loyal Orange Association, paraded to the War Memorial where hundreds of citizens had gathered to take part in the service, which was held in respect of those who died in the cause of freedom.
Memorial Day coincides with Canada Day, which was called Dominion Day, in 1954. That year, Dominion Day was observed on Friday, July 2nd. This was by mutual agreement between the (mining) Company and the mine and office staff unions. Instead of observing the holiday on that Thursday, July 1st, all mines and departments ceased operations at 8:00 a.m. on Friday and reopened the following Monday, thus affording the majority of employees the opportunity of enjoying a three day holiday. Many employees took advantage of the long weekend by taking their families on an outing to the local mainland, while others chose to get in a day or two of fishing at their favourite pond or stream. Mainland employees enjoyed the long weekend holiday with their families and friends at home, returning to the Island Sunday evening.
Orangemen's Day, July 12th: Commemorates the Battle of the Boyne, which took place in 1690 outside Drogheda, now in the Republic of Ireland. Prince William of Orange won the battle against King James VII of Scotland (aka King James II of England & Ireland). Prince William became King William III. It is a provincial holiday in Newfoundland & Labrador on the Monday closest to July 12th. The Loyal Orange Association (LOA) would hold a parade featuring someone dressed as "King Billy" leading the parade on a white horse, suitably decorated for the occasion. Read more about Orangemen's Day and the Loyal Orange Association at https://www.historic-wabana.com/loyal-orange-association.html on this website.
Sports Day, August
Labour Day, First Monday in September. See more in offshoot from this page.
Thanksgiving: Second Monday in October. See more in the offshoot from this page.
Hallowe'en: October 31: See more in the offshoot from this page.
Bonfire Night, also called Guy Fawkes Night, Nov. 5th: Originating in England in 1605 after conspirators plotted to blow up the Houses of Parliament, Bonfire Night was never a public holiday, but a highly-anticipated evening event late in the Fall as it became darker earlier. See more in the offshoot from this page.
Remembrance Day, November 11th: The tradition of Remembrance Day evolved out of Armistice Day, which commemorated the armistice agreement that ended the First World War on Monday, November 11, 1918 at 11:00 a.m., the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month. It is a federal statutory holiday in Canada. See more in the offshoot from this page.
Christmas, December 25: See more on the offshoot from this page.
New Year's Eve: Dec. 31: