In years past, your Canada Day probably included sunburns, limp hot dogs and tears over the maple leaf tattoo that rubbed off. But this year, things will be different. You?re going to ditch that backyard barbecue and the maple-leaf accessories and celebrate like it?s 1867. Given that 2017 marks the sesquicentennial anniversary of Canadian Confederation (that?s a fancy way of saying that the official nation of Canada is 150 years old) you need to take a trip back in time.
Life for kids in the 1860s was very different than it is now?school wasn?t mandatory, there were no video games and everything you ate, you made from scratch. You could tell your kids about life in the 19th century and maybe show them a few photos. Or you could grab some suspenders and a bonnet, and pretend you are citizens of British America. Now, there was a lot of work to do back then (someone had to milk the cow and knit that shawl!), but when they partied, they partied hard. ?There was lots of food and lots of fire,? says Heather Tichenor, Historic Programs Coordinator at Black Creek Pioneer Village in North York, Ont. On Confederation Day, the whole town came out for the parade, free ice cream and massive band concert. So, you better get ready to do the jig! From churning the cream to playing a few rounds of croqinol, here are some tried and true ways to really have a memorable day.
1. Play ball

Outdoor activities, especially ball games, were trendy with kids in the 1860s. Hockey was still in its inf...