Tomorrow (Monday) is a newly-created holiday (which, if you’ve been in Canada in February, is crucial for mental survival), called “Family Day”. This is its second year in existence and nobody really knows what to do with it. Okay, when I say “nobody” I mean me.
I’ve never been someone who makes elaborate plans in advance of long-weekends. For me, weekends are about plugging-out of work and relaxing, writing, photography, and the occasional neighbourhood brunch. I suppose if I had a cottage up north things would be different (not that February is necessarily when you want to be at a cottage up north).
Add to this the ree-coc-u-lous name “Family Day”. The premier of Ontario deemed it so, pinning its creation to his rationale; whether said rationale is window-dressing or solemn honesty is beside the point. I hate the name. 
I’m not a militant sort, but what of those of us without children? Should I spend the day meditating on my biological error? Are all those people gearing-up to get drunk up and down Ossington Avenue tonight doing so as a testament to the strength of the Ontarian family? Doubtful.
Rather than spending it with our kids (who don’t exist, though we do have a lovely cat – her name is Selchie), I shall be mending clothing with holes, cleaning up some paperwork, filing things away, and reading. And yes, we’re going for drinks tonight.
So, from our family to yours, have a lovely Family Day tomorrow, gracious readers.
Actually, I think your activities are likely the exact same things families with children are doing though they won’t admit it. They’re not the ones who’ll be plastered on the news, of course, doing all that in the privacy of their homes. The news is meant to get everyone to conform. The stuff you are doing is the stuff we always did on family holidays with kid because all the family places were too crowded and obnoxious and we’re nonconformists and always had things that needed darning and filing anyway. I refuse to do anything that’s required on a “designated” day. It’s fascist.
When I first moved to Alberta, people said that Family Day was supposed to make up for President’s Day – so the American workers up here would still get their long weekend.
I’m spending the day doing some homework and writing. No family of my own, but the cats are obnoxious enough to be toddlers (at times).
It’s just nice to have a day off. I don’t care what they call it…it could be Stockwell Day day and I’d still be happy.
Squirrel – it certainly is nice to do the opposite of what the prescribed Day suggests. For example, abstaining from turkey on Thanksgiving. Small rebellions have meaning.
Heather – Interesting bit of history, re: President’s Day. That said, if it was called Stockwell Day Day, I would actually go in to work in protest 🙂
Such a holiday doesn’t exist here but, if it did, I would spend it doing what needs to be done and then doing what I enjoy. I am not sure that I would play with my kids – the selfish pig that I am!
Well, you can’t be sure that you won’t have kids in a year or two. In any case, a child is very different from a cat.
I hope you enjoyed your day. We don't have that in the UK – but we do get quite a few Bank Holidays throughout the year which is a plus!
I do wonder what the reaction to a "Family Day" in the UK would be… it's always popping up in the news the state of "broken families" in the UK & long rants about how this is having a knock-on effect with all the teenage crime that's happening atm (pretty grim – sgan't go on about it here)… who knows.
Anyway – I digress. It's a day off – take it… 🙂