A symbol of Canadian identity

Canada

Canterbury bell (Campanula medium)

Canterbury bell is a plant with blue, violet or white bell-shaped flowers, and said to be so named since the flowers look like the bells on the horses of pilgrims riding to Canterbury, or else the metal badges, called St. Thomas Bells, sold to these pilgrims.

2.9. “Mayflower”

The Mayflower is the name of the ship that took a group of English settlers from Plymouth to America in 1620. Many of the settlers were religious and they are usually called the Pilgrim Fathers. In the US people respect a person whose family “come over on the “Mayflower”, but since very few people can claim this, it is not unusual for people to make jokes about it.

The official ceremony inaugurating the new Canadian flag was held on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on February 15, 1965, with Governor General Georges Vanier, Prime Minister Lester B. Pearson, the members of the Cabinet and thousands of Canadians in attendance.

The Canadian Red Ensign, bearing the Union Jack and the shield of the royal arms of Canada, was lowered and then, on the stroke of noon, our new maple leaf flag was raised. The crowd sang the national anthem O Canada followed by the royal anthem God Save the Queen.

The following words, spoken on that momentous day by the Honourable Maurice Bourget, Speaker of the Senate, added further symbolic meaning to our flag: "The flag is the symbol of the nation's unity, for it, beyond any doubt, represents all the citizens of Canada without distinction of race, language, belief or opinion."

Дата добавления: 2015-05-06