Not Christmas
The first day of this Jewish holiday coincides with Christmas this year, though it changes dates from year to year.
Hanukkah/Chanukah
In the 1830's, this common household condiment was sold as a medicine in the form of a pill. Today, it is normally found in fridges and families prefer Heinz or French's.
Ketchup
The first of the 12 days leading up to Christmas, December 12th, is also the day for building a confection construction commonly enjoyed around the holiday season. Some decorations include icing, gumdrops, and peppermints.
Gingerbread house
December 3rd marks the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, started by this international cooperative organization
UN (United Nations)
Canada holds one quarter of this, the most precious resource in the world and necessary for human life. The Great Lakes are a major source.
Fresh water
December 17th this year is the ancient Roman holiday for which one of the planets in our solar system is also named.
Saturnalia
Cheese
You might wish to decorate your house with an iconic poinsettia or mistletoe, but beware, they are both extremely toxic to this household pet.
Cat
A very recent win, the Accessible Canada Act came into effect on the 11th of July 2019. A key principle of this act is a common phrase used with and for disability policies starting with the word "nothing."
Nothing about us without us
This geologic feature is part of the North American continental plate and spans over Labrador, Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, some of Alberta, the Northwest Territories, and Nunavut. It is the oldest of its kind in the world, with some of it over 4 billion years old.
Canadian Shield
The winter solstice marks this western pagan holiday, marked by burning a hardwood log throughout the longest night of the year to protect from evil spirits.
Yule
Raspberries, cherries, apricots, plums, pears, apples, quinces, peaches, strawberries, and blackberries are all related to this flower, which by any other name would smell as sweet.
Rose
Popularized in Europe during the 13th century, this tradition of going house-to-house and singing to spread joy predates their appearance in churches.
Christmas carolling
In 1921 this substance was discovered and was used for the first time to save a life a year later. In 1978 a synthetic version was produced, and today it saves millions of people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes.
Insulin
The Bay of Fundy has the largest of its kind in the world, with the Hopewell Rocks being a national monument popular for viewing this phenomenon that reaches over 16m in height.
Tides
Coming from a Swahili phrase meaning "first fruits", the goal of this holiday is for people of African ancestry to connect with their cultural roots. It is a week-long celebration marked by five key traditions and seven principles. This year it spans from December 26th to January 1st.
Kwanzaa
The California roll, BC roll, rainbow roll, spider roll, and golden roll were all invented by Hidekazu Tojo, a Vancouver resident and this type of chef.
Sushi
Starting in Germany, this tradition of finding this peculiar Christmas tree ornament means that the finder gets an extra gift.
Pickle
The Canada Disability Benefit passed last year in July, making historic framework legislation for the eventual equality and equity of persons with disabilities in Canada. However, only four of the provinces have promised no clawbacks, plus this one territory.
Yukon
(Provinces are British Columbia, Manitoba, Newfoundland and Labrador, and Nova Scotia)
Canada has the longest unprotected border in the world, and the longest of another kind of border involving three oceans.
Coastline
Introduced by the sitcom Seinfeld in 1997, this holiday marks an alternative to Christmas for those seeking a less commercial and faith-based holiday. However, its popularity has made it become more commercialized, thus defeating the purpose.
Festivus
This popular type of cake calls for an equal measure of butter, flour, sugar, and eggs, and less of any other type of flavouring like lemon or vanilla.
Pound cake
Getting this for the first of December guarantees a little treat every day up until Christmas, marked by opening a box for a reward.
Advent Calendar
This Canadian organization has produced a disability report card, has worked to shape the Canada Disability Benefit and pressured provinces and territories to promise not to clawback any benefits, and also tracks poverty.
Disability Without Poverty
Canada has six of these that help keep track of the daylight and the differences across land. France has the most with thirteen, including overseas territories.
Time zones