Province of Nova Scotia Local Customs

 
by easterntrekker
 
  •   Local Customs
    by easterntrekker
  •   Local Customs
    by easterntrekker
  • My Lamp Cabin Inn donair. I ate very bite. :)
      My Lamp Cabin Inn donair. I ate very...
    by 850prc
  • Hockey game poutine. Better get some Rolaids
      Hockey game poutine. Better get some...
    by 850prc
  • Is this crative or not?
      Is this crative or not?
    by pieter_jan_v
 

Reviews from VirtualTourist Members

Celtic Colours Festival

by tvor

Every year in October, over the course of about 10 days, there is a Celtic Colours festival on the island of Cape Breton. There are events small and large in many communities across the island. There is also the spectacular fall colours ablaze across the landscape. The best Celtic musicians and performers are featured during the festival which celebrates the celtic heritage, Gaelic language, arts and crafts of the area. You will never regret visiting Cape Breton during the festival.

Scarecrow Festival

by tvor

In the south shore town of Mahone Bay, usually the last weekend of September or early October, you may spy some unusual citizens lounging on front porches and lawns, on street corners and shop fronts. They would be scarecrows of every shape and size. The Scarecrow festival is held over is a fun way to spend a day. They have a vintage car display, antique fare and a bandstand with music and plenty of other activities, both in the day time and in the evening such as a lit Pumpkin parade. Mahone Bay is about an hour's drive from Halifax on Highway 103 via exit 10.see the travelogue for more photos and info.

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Nova Scotian cuisine II - the Poutine

by 850prc

While I was in Nova Scotia, I had the pleasure of attending a local junior league hockey game. When in Canada, right? When I visited the food concessions stand between the three periods of play, I noticed that they sold Rolaids antacid tablets - they were literally ON the menu. Really. There are two particularly good reasons that Rolaids would be a top seller in such a venue. The first is that the locals order and enjoy "deep fried pepperoni". These are large chunks of Italian pepperoni that are literally immersed in cooking oil and fried for a couple of minutes. I didn't try it, but I can certainly imagine that indigestion might go hand in hand with deep fried pepperoni. But, there's an even more pressing reason to consider Rolaids on a trip to the concession stand.... there's the poutine. Never heard of "poutines"? Me neither. I saw some little kid order one and when they handed him...

Tip Photo
Nova Scotian cuisine I - the Donair

by 850prc

Canada and the USA may be very similar, but there ARE differences. For example, there are food items commonly sold in Canada that were completely unfamiliar to us. The first example of this would be the ubiquitous donair.... ubiquitous in Nova Scotia anyway.Apparently, this pizza-like casual comfort food was "invented" many years ago in Halifax. It's somewhat the product of mideastern cooking, with roots in both gyro sandwichs and various other grilled meat and flatbread meals.A donair is basically made this way...You start with a small circular flatbread. Onto this bread, you put "donair meat". This meat can vary by location and by whomever is making your donair, but in general, it's a spiced-pressed-chopped meat product. In most places, I think it's mostly beef, although some lamb may be part of it. The best way I can describe it would be "it's like peppery meat on a gyro sandwich"....

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where do you live stranger?

by vickiv2

In general in the Maritimes, realize that people do not think it's rude to ask a complete stranger for personal details -especially where they live. They are fascinated with knowing where people are from and want to know if they know anyone where you live. They won't be deterred by general responses either, they will keep pressing for answers. In urban areas people learn to avoid eye contact with strangers - Maritimers consider people who don't make eye contact with strangers as being shifty. On the plus side, Maritimers will almost always help a stranger in distress (eg. car broken down) quite frequently without expecting any money in return (although gifts given at a later date are considered acceptable and show that the stranger is a good sort - such as a feed of lobster or a bottle of booze).

Cover your ears - Boom comng over!!

by scottishvisitor

If you are in Halifax around noon listen out for a loud bang. The Halifax Citadel is a National Historic Site & is still guarded by the 78th. Highlanders The noon day gun is fired everyday - much the same as Edinburgh Castle but not as old. Prince Edward Duke of Kent, the father of Queen Victoria was commander of the British forces in Halifax from 1794 to 1800 & it was probably to his instruction the gun was fired & still is.

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The People & Language

by scottishvisitor

Nova Scotia makes good use of its dual langauge of English and French, both are spoken widely here in the Province. Most road signs are printed in both languages as are the entry tickets for the attractions. In Cape Breton Scottish Gaelic is also widely spoken, passed down from the Ancestors who came here over three hundred years ago.

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Grave stones point east

by scottishvisitor

While travelling around Cape Breton we noticed a lot of graveyards usually in remote areas and nearly always near a church.The head stones were not laid out in straight lines or in neat rows but seemed to be placed at random but one common link was the head stones were all facing the same direction - east to Scotland and France.

Tip Photo
Sociable!!

by Northshorewind

...hey folks, when you hear this in a bar raise and tip your glass...just a tip, if you go into a Catholic mass the next day don't make the mistake of yelling sociable when the priest raises the chalice....you'll be a marked duck!

Wooden Boat Festival

by tvor

n Mahone Bay on the south shore of the province, they hold a wooden boat festival over a weekend in mid summer. There is a strong seafaring heritage in this province and Mahone Bay celebrates it with demonstrations, races, boat building demonstrations, a parade and fireworks.

Tip Photo
Local traditions and culture in Province of Nova Scotia

Top 3 Hotels in Province of Nova Scotia

Cambridge Suites Hotel  Halifax

 5 Reviews and 375 Opinions  We stayed here for an extended stay when relocating and found it very convient. It is clean ,... 

 Hotels in Halifax

Smuggler's Cove Inn  Lunenburg

 38 Opinions

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Best Western Mermaid  Yarmouth

 1 Review and 24 Opinions  Have only booked others in here. They have been quite happy with this place. It's not too pricey,... 

 Hotels in Yarmouth

179 Hotels in Province of Nova Scotia
 
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Reviews and photos of Province of Nova Scotia attractions posted by real travelers and locals. The best tips for Province of Nova Scotia sightseeing.

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Local Customs: Cities in Province of Nova Scotia
  1. Halifax Local Customs
  2. Cape Breton Island Local Customs
  3. Sydney Local Customs
  4. Yarmouth Local Customs
  5. Fortress of Louisbourg National Historic Park Local Customs
  6. Pictou Local Customs
  7. Bras d'Or Lake Local Customs
  8. Glace Bay Local Customs
  9. Annapolis Royal Local Customs
  10. Windsor Local Customs
  11. Liverpool Local Customs
  12. Greenwood Local Customs
  13. Bridgewater Local Customs

More Cities in Province of Nova Scotia

 

Questions and Answers

Anjulis profile photo

Q:  Hello, My wife and I will arrive in Halifax this Friday, around 9pm and will leave on Tuesday, around 6 pm. What will be the... 

GrumpyDiver profile photo

A: First of all, I assume you are flying in. Halifax Airport is a fair distance out of the city (a good 45 minute drive), really almost half way between Halifax and Truro. ... 

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