Explore Art, Music, Traditions, and Holidays from Many Cultures!

Canada is home to many cultures. You can learn about Cultural Customs and Traditions from people all around the world who live here. Each culture shares who they are through art, music, and special celebrations.

You will discover that art, music, and holidays help people share their stories and feel proud of where they come from.

Indigenous peoples were the first to live in Canada. They include First Nations, Métis, and Inuit peoples. You can learn more about their stories through First Peoples Oral Histories.

First Nations people use drums for singing and dancing at powwows. A powwow is a special Indigenous gathering with drumming, singing, and dancing. At powwows, dancers wear colourful regalia with feathers and beads.

Métis people love to play the fiddle. Jigging is a lively traditional dance of the Métis people. Inuit artists are known for their carvings of animals and people, which show life in the Arctic. Inuit throat singing is a traditional vocal game where two people face each other and make rhythmic sounds.

Indigenous peoples on Canada's west coast carve totem poles from wood. Totem poles tell stories about families and history. British Columbia is home to many First Nations groups who carve totem poles.

Canada has many special holidays you will learn about. You can explore more through Cultural Celebrations, Festivals, Holidays and Events.

Canada Day is celebrated on July 1st every year. Canadians watch fireworks to celebrate the day Canada became a country in 1867. The Canadian flag has red and white colours with a red maple leaf in the centre. The beaver is also an official symbol of Canada.

Remembrance Day is on November 11th. Canadians honour soldiers who served in wars. People wear a red poppy on Remembrance Day as a symbol of respect.

Diwali is called the Festival of Lights. People light small oil lamps called diyas and enjoy sweet desserts. Lunar New Year is celebrated by Chinese and other Asian Canadians with parades and paper lanterns. People wear bright red clothes at Chinese New Year because red is a lucky colour.

At Canadian Thanksgiving in October, families eat roast turkey and give thanks. At Christmas, many Canadians hang colourful lights and stockings. At Halloween, people carve pumpkins. At Easter, children hunt for eggs. On Valentine's Day, people give cards and hearts. On St. Patrick's Day, people wear green clothing. At Eid, Muslim Canadians enjoy sweet desserts with family.

Quebec holds a famous Winter Carnival with ice sculptures and snow slides. Caribana is a large festival in Canada that celebrates African and Caribbean heritage.

People use many instruments to make music. Drums and flutes are used in many cultures across Canada. The fiddle is important in both Métis and Celtic music traditions. Fiddling is popular in Métis and French Canadian communities.

You can make art on paper using paint or crayons. Many cultures create art to share their stories and traditions. You can explore more about Ways People Express Culture through art and music.

Many people in Quebec speak French as their first language. French is one of Canada's two official languages. Poutine is a famous Canadian food made with fries, cheese curds, and gravy that started in Quebec.

Powwow: A powwow is a special Indigenous gathering where people share music, dance, and traditions. You will see drumming, singing, and colourful regalia at a powwow.

Regalia: Regalia is the special, colourful clothing worn by Indigenous dancers at powwows. It often has feathers and beads and shows pride in their culture.

Totem Pole: A totem pole is a tall carved wooden sculpture made by Indigenous peoples of the Pacific Coast. You can find many totem poles in British Columbia. Each figure on a totem pole tells a family story.

Jigging: Jigging is a lively traditional dance of the Métis people in Canada. It is an important part of their cultural expression.

Fiddle: A fiddle is a violin played in a lively style. It is very important in Métis music and Celtic music traditions in Canada.

Diwali: Diwali is the Festival of Lights celebrated by many South Asian Canadians. People light small oil lamps and share sweet treats with family.

Lunar New Year: Lunar New Year is a holiday celebrated by Chinese and other Asian Canadians. You will see colourful parades, paper lanterns, and fireworks.

Remembrance Day: Remembrance Day is on November 11th in Canada. Canadians honour soldiers who served in wars and wear a red poppy as a symbol of remembrance.

Canada Day: Canada Day is celebrated on July 1st every year. It marks the day Canada became a country in 1867. You can watch fireworks on Canada Day.

Caribana: Caribana is a large festival in Canada that celebrates African and Caribbean heritage. It is a joyful cultural celebration.

Igloo: An igloo is a shelter built from blocks of snow, traditionally made by Inuit people in Canada's Arctic.

Throat Singing: Inuit throat singing is a traditional vocal game where two people face each other and make rhythmic sounds. It is a unique part of Inuit culture.

Maple Leaf: The maple leaf is the symbol in the centre of Canada's flag. It is a symbol of Canadian identity and culture.

Beaver: The beaver is Canada's official national symbol. You can find it on the Canadian five-cent coin.

Poutine: Poutine is a famous Canadian food made with fries, cheese curds, and gravy. It started in Quebec and is now loved across Canada.

Red Poppy: A red poppy is worn by Canadians on Remembrance Day to honour soldiers. The poppy is a symbol of remembrance and respect.

You can try making art like Inuit carvings using clay. You can listen to fiddle music or drumming from different cultures. You can also learn about Community Celebrations and Events happening near you.

You can draw the Canadian flag with its red maple leaf. You can also find out which holidays your family and friends celebrate and share what makes them special.

You have already learned about Cultural Festivals and Cultural Foods and Dress. You also know about Family Celebrations and Cultural Characteristics: Language, Family Origins, Food and Dress. These topics help you understand how cultures share who they are.

You have also learned about First Peoples Oral Histories, which helps you understand the stories and traditions of Indigenous peoples in Canada.

This topic connects to many other important ideas you will explore. You can learn about Cultural Foods and Traditional Dress Across Societies to see how food and clothing are also ways cultures express themselves.

You can explore Diversity Within Communities to see how many different cultures live together. You can also learn about Community Languages and Multilingual Diversity to discover how language is part of culture.

You will find connections to Sharing Between Cultures and Coming to the Community, which show how people bring their traditions when they move to new places.

You can also explore First Peoples Ways of Life to learn more about Indigenous cultures in Canada.

After this topic, you will be ready to learn about Cultural Diversity in Communities, Customs and Celebrations, Food, Art, and Clothing, Family Customs, Maintaining Traditions, First Peoples Traditions, and Local Celebrations.