Unusual Canadian Superstitions, Customs, And Traditions

By Author: Edward Edland
Total Articles: 4
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When foreigners visit Canada, it goes without saying that they need to prepare for a lot of travel requirements. Those who come from visa-exempt countries need to have a valid passport and make sure that it does not expire during their stay in the country. Those who require visas have to go through the long visa application process. Super Visa applicants must have their Super Visa Insurance, among other things, while underage travelers need to have parental consent from both living parents.

Aside from these requirements, there are also other things travelers have to prepare themselves for, in particular common customs and practices in Canada that they will be expected to observe or at least be aware of.

Tourists must familiarize themselves with the country's currency, especially since the bills are very colorful and might confuse foreigners. Travelers from the United States are often misled by the term "dollars" as well, thinking that the Canadian dollar is the same as the US Dollar. ...
... For instance, many Canadian websites do not indicate that amounts are quoted in CAD; it is simply assumed that users will know this. When checking ticket costs and fees for lodgings, rentals, and the like that are quoted in other currencies, convert them all to CAD for easy comparison. Also, Canadians refer to one-dollar coins as "loonies" and two-dollar coins as "toonies."

If you are hoping to celebrate Thanksgiving in Canada, plan your trip for October because that is when Canadians celebrate it, unlike in the US where Thanksgiving is celebrated in November.

What they do celebrate in November is Remembrance Day. It is a day of tribute to the soldiers and civilians who died during World War I. Remembrance Day is celebrated every November 11th at 11:00 in the morning (the time and date of the World War I armistice in 1918). Canadians wear poppies on this day and make wreaths of this flower to be laid at the memorial sites erected in honor of the victims and heroes of World War I.

Do not be surprised if people start burning sage at a house warming party. It is an old ritual in Canada that is said to drive away evil spirits and negative energy from a home—a ritual that is often featured in television, books, and movies as well.

For those who are planning to study in Canada, college and university have different meanings. Colleges provide career training and prepare students for entry into the trades, while universities offer academic and professional programs. This is why Canadian college gradates tend to earn less than university graduates.

Lastly, it helps to review your basic French before going to Canada. French and English are its two major languages. In some areas such as northern New Brunswick and Quebec, French is the dominant language so road and store signs are likely to be written in French.

It is normal for foreigners to commit some sort of faux pas when they travel in a foreign country. Many locals are willing to overlook these mistakes. However, not all people will give foreigners leeway for their ignorance, so it is also important for tourists to learn how to live in harmony with the locals.

Edward Edland writes for Best Quote Travel Insurance, a Canadian company that offers instant travel insurance quotes for various travel insurance types, including the Canada super visa medical insurance expats and backpackers or students. To learn more about Best Quote Travel Insurance please visit our site http://www.bestquotetravelinsurance.ca