Nova Scotia's Rich History Comes Alive with Summer Heritage Festivals Celebrating Founding Cultures

(PRLEAP.COM) Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada (May 23, 2009) History literally comes alive this summer in Nova Scotia with events and festivals that celebrate the region’s rich cultural history.

With its proximity to Europe, Halifax was the Canadian entry point for immigrants from all over the world. Between 1928 and 1971, 1 million immigrants passed through the doors of Pier 21 so by our calculation, more than 25 million people have a family connection to Nova Scotia. On July 1, 2009, Pier 21 will celebrate its tenth year as Canada’s Immigration Museum. Nova Scotia’s cultural history is one of the richest in all of North America. Despite being the 2nd smallest of Canada’s 13 provinces and territories by size, Nova Scotia has the second highest number of National Historic Sites in the country with 26.

Here are some of the founding people, events and attractions that can be experienced as part of Nova Scotia’s cultural history this summer:
- Mi’kmaq. June 21 is celebrated across the country in honour of Canada’s Aboriginal peoples. National Aboriginal Day, chosen for the significance to the summer solstice (the first day of summer and the longest day of the year), which is when many Aboriginal groups celebrate their cultural heritage. The Glooscap Heritage Centre in Millbrook, near Truro will host Nova Scotia’s celebrations. The annual Mi’kmaq Millbrook Powwow, August 7 - 9, welcomes all visitors to experience this authentic native celebration and enjoy the dancing, drumming, and other traditional entertainment.
- Acadians. What today we know as Nova Scotia was "Acadie" to the French who inhabited it until the 18th century when the British took control of the region. Acadian heritage is celebrated in several French-speaking Acadian communities with festivals and attractions in the Yarmouth and Acadian Shore region and on Cape Breton Island.
- African-Canadian. Black culture in Nova Scotia has an important history. In the 1700s Birchtown, on the South Shore was home to largest population of free blacks outside of Africa. Martin Luther King called Canada the "North Star" for its role in the Underground Railway which enabled 30,000 runaway slaves to reach Canada from 1840 to 1860. While Nova Scotia was not part of the underground railway system, there are extensive genealogy records available for families tracing their roots and the Black Cultural Centre for Nova Scotia in Halifax is celebrating its 26th Anniversary this year.
- Scottish Gaels. Gaelic has been spoken in this Province for over 230 years and Nova Scotia is the last stronghold for Gaelic language and culture in North America. Throughout Cape Breton Island (which received most of the Scottish Gaelic speaking emigrant population), Gaelic descendants share their Gaelic and Celtic traditions at ceilidhs, concerts and Gaelic festivals called a Fèis. Visitors can also take in the Highland Village Museum and experience Gaelic life circa the late 19th century and the Great Hall of Clans at the Gaelic College of Celtic Arts & Crafts in St. Ann’s to research your Scottish roots.

A complete list of Signature Festivals & Events and Cultural Attractions in Nova Scotia can be found on Nova Scotia’s official tourism website.

PR Leap is a service of Condesa, Inc. © 2009 All Rights Reserved. Use of our service is governed by our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service.
Issuers of news releases are solely responsible for the accuracy of their content. Copyright / IP Policy