No doubt things north of the border have been a bit quieter today, seeing as how today, being the first Monday of August, is treated as an official or semi-official holiday in nine of the twelve Canadian provinces.  Only Newfoundland and Labrador, Nunavut and Quebec –what’s up with you guys!? — don’t recognize this August holiday that goes  by various names in the provinces that do celebrate it. 

From an American point of view, the idea of a holiday, official or not, that is as much about taking a break during the depths of summer seems both pleasingly quaint and consistent with the idea that many of us have of Canada as a laid back place.  Sure, we have things like Arbor Day, a holiday for which as a child we would occasionally take note of in school if a teacher was alert enough to make us aware of it.  But, as far as I know, we don’t have any holidays devoted simply to taking a break just because we feel like it.

So, here’s to our Canadian friends kicking back today to enjoy this day, whether for a specific reason or, even better, for no good reason at all!

(Photo Credit:  Nils Steindorf-Sabath)