The United States of America celebrates the 4th of July as Independence Day, marking freedom from colonizer Great Britain. It is a public holiday since 1941, and US states celebrate with fireworks, parades, and picnics. Does neighbor Canada celebrate the 4th of July too?

No, it does not. Canada has its own Independence Day; July 1 is celebrated as Canada Day. It marks Canada becoming a self-governing dominion of Great Britain. 

It was on July 1, 1867 that the British North America Act came into effect. The Act united several colonies like New Brunswick, the Province of Canada, and Nova Scotia, and the new country was given the name the Dominion of Canada.

Also Read | 11 places to watch Fourth of July Fireworks from this year

Canada became a fully independent country and adopted its own constitution in 1982. It is still, however, a member of what is called the British Commonwealth or countries which declared Independence but continued to recognize the British monarch as their ruler. Many members have since removed the British monarch as head of state, but Canada is not one of them. So the current monarch of Britain, Queen Elizabeth 2, is also the Queen of Canada.

Also Read| Fourth of July: What’s open, what’s closed

Canada began celebrating July 1 as Independence Day in 1983. July 1 is a federal holiday in Canada and celebrations are very similar to those in the USA three days later, on July 4. And yes, if July1 is a Sunday, Canadians still get their holiday on Monday.

Across the border, this year marks the 246th anniversary of America’s freedom from colonial rule. 

It was on July 2, 1776, that the American Congress voted to declare freedom from Britain, adopting the Declaration of Independence, which details the reasons why it was a must that the “absolute tyranny” of the King of England ended in America. “Let facts be submitted to a candid world,” says the declaration, the wording of which was approved on July 4.