Canada Day celebrates the independence of the nation of Canada . It is a day that provides all Canadians a chance to endorse and reaffirm their national history and independence. The nationally observed holiday is experienced all over Canada and allows all residents to celebrate what it means to be Canadian. In order to commemorate their independence, Canadians participate in a number of activities and display national symbols.

  Due to the size and purpose of Canada Day, it is considered a nationalistic and a political celebration. Since 1985, Canada 's government has given grants to each province and territory to fund the nation-wide celebration (Canadian Heritage, 2004). Each province or territory uses the grants to plan activities within their boundaries. These activities bring a sense of social solidarity on a national scale through an ethnocentric approach in a sense that Canadians are celebrating the differences they have with other nations or cultures. These activities include fireworks, fellowship, performances, and feasts. While the celebrations in the cities are popular, some Canadians also celebrate their independence on a smaller scale like in their neighborhood, for example.

  This ritual of celebrating independence brings a sense of communitas, which is a “direct, spontaneous, and egalitarian mode of social relationship,” to the nation (Turner and Turner 1982). As millions of Canadian citizens gather to Canada 's major cities to celebrate, the one day of excitement enforces the connection and common bonds of all Canadians, regardless of hierarchical relationships between citizens. Not all Canadians are the same in that about 60% of citizens are of English origin and about 23% are of French origin, which is more diverse than England or France alone. However, Canada Day minimizes social distinctions and increases the patriotism of being Canadian along side of the separate heritages of the population. To illustrate this point, in 1997, the headlines to the Monreal Gazette on Canada Day read, “Queen Hails Canada's Diversity,” (Steyn, 1997). Additional to differences in countries of origin, Canada Day de-emphasizes differences in religion, economic status, and social structure. It also gives the country an ability to observe their countries' strong points such as political structure, peace, freedom, and liberty. On July 1 st , Canadians have a chance to set aside their differences and promote their common history and country.

  Canadians display an immense amount of pride for their emphasis on peace. Since confederation in 1867, Canadians have celebrated the fact that they have the longest undefended border in the world and it has been for over 150 years. It must be noted that Canadians, though it is ethnocentric, demonstrate patriotism. For example, Canadians celebrate their independence through fellowship and fun. It is not common to see citizens wrapping themselves in the national flag proclaiming how they would die for their country. Via the performances, fireworks, and food, it's easy to see that Canadians love their country, their fellow countrymen, and wouldn't want to live anywhere else in the world. This value on peace is core value seen in the celebration of Canadian independence, especially as more wars break out globally.

With respect to rituals and rites of passage, Canada Day reinforces its culture on a national scale. Canadian citizens on Canada Day celebrate the rite of passage the country experienced in becoming independent from England . The act of having a day devoted to celebrating independence shows how Canadians celebrate this separation. The day illustrates a feeling that Canada isn't like any other country in the world. Canada Day itself is chance for Canadian citizens to participate the passage's liminal phase. To illustrate this point, Turner and Turner (1982) write, “Rites performed at major calendrical terms often portray turnabouts of normal social status: the poor play the rich, the rich at being poor… commoners wear the insignia of rule.” In the context of Canada Day, all Canadians are given the chance to celebrate their nationality and normal societal roles are no longer noticed so bonds can be made between countrymen. This liminal period is public and gives citizens a chance to remember what their country was founded on and what makes Canada a great place to live. Actually, in some ways, a Canadian citizen's role is reversed from an individual or English citizen to a Canadian citizen that is a part of a bigger, nation-wide picture. Towards the end of Canada Day, participants reenter society with a new feeling of being Canadian. Turner and Turner (1982) also say that large public celebrations “enable participants and spectators to realize just how far they have fallen short of or transgressed their own ideal standards, or even, in some kinds of ritual, to call those very ideals into question…” In the context of Canada Day, the leveling of societal roles enables the population as whole to reevaluate what their country has been founded on. It is in the national scale of Canada Day that society renews itself at the source of festal joy, having purified themselves through collective self-criticism and jocund reflexivity (Tuner and Turner, 1982). The incorporation of patriotic ideas strengthened Canada as a new country and continues to strengthen it as time passes.

Canada Day also grants a chance for the residents of Canada to express their patriotism, which their love and devotion for their country. The unification and common experiences endows the youth of the nation with education about their country. This enculturation of Canadian youth makes the passing down of national pride possible. Through observation alone, Canadian youth can observe the core values of the nation. Around this time of year, Canadian youth also experience direct instruction when they learn about the symbols and history of Canadian culture.

As in most celebrations, symbols are used to convey meaning to the participants. The biggest symbol Canada uses to celebrate its independence is its flag. On Canada Day, Canadian citizens display their flags as a symbol of their love for their country.