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Nova Scotia is a tiny maritime province in eastern Canada. With the highest tides in the world and some of the lowest population in Canada this makes for a very unique and special place to live. Somehow we have been able to retain much of our traditional ways of life. As a result life here remains slow for many of us which allows us to easily stay connected to our roots. Nova Scotia is full of beautiful views and people. Our landscape is as varied as the wonderful people who call this place home. Here are just some of the ways that Maritimers live old fashioned lives in a modern time.
1.We are Welcoming and Friendly
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If you ever have the chance to visit Nova Scotia don’t be surprised if you get waved at regularly. We don’t think we know you, it is just a friendly gesture! Wave back! Nova Scotians are notoriously friendly and welcoming. If you show up to visit around meal times be prepared to eat!
2.We put Family First
I am sure this happens everywhere but here in Nova Scotia this is especially important. We are a small province and as such we rely on each other. For many of us our closest family members are also our best friends. There is a level of loving responsibility we have towards one another. Although these values seem traditional, our families don’t always look traditional. Here in Nova Scotia you don’t have to be blood to be part of the family. Family dinner is no small feat! Imagine 35 people of all ages, relations and skills together in one home laughing, talking and enjoying delicious food. It is usually beautiful chaos! We all support one another in all the ways we can.
3.We Pick Dulse
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You might not know what Dulse is. That’s okay! Dulse is a dark purple seaweed found here on the shores of Nova Scotia. We still gather and dry this seaweed for food consumption. It is available to buy in most of our supermarkets! It has a delightful salty flavour and is a great source of iodine and potassium.
4.We keep a Dooryard Garden
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We have gardens, our parents keep a garden, and our grandparents kept one too. We didn’t start doing this yesterday. We don’t do it because it is trendy. Growing some of your own food within reach of your kitchen is something that people in Nova Scotia have been doing for generations. Nova Scotians know that a tomato plucked fresh from your own garden tastes incomparable to anything found in a store.
5.We Quilt, Knit and Crochet
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Traditional skills are often passed down through generations here in Nova Scotia. Maybe due to our close knit families and maybe out of necessity; many of these traditional skills remain alive and well in our pretty little province. Many Nova Scotians are skilled craftsmen and most Nova Scotians are at least crafty. As a result many of these goods are available for sale at local Farmers Markets and online. If you find yourself wanting to learn a new skill there is always someone who is willing and able to teach you.
6.The Hants County Exhibition
The Hants County Exhibition was first established in the year 1765 and is now the oldest agricultural fair in North America. It has run continuously for 257 years as of 2022. Here in Nova Scotia when something is good, we keep it! It is such a great way for farmers to showcase their goods and for fair goers to connect with a piece of living history all while eating candy apples and watching tractor pulls. If you would like more information click this link http://hantscountyex.com/ .
7.We Hang our Clothes to Dry; the Right Way
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Many Nova Scotian still use clotheslines to dry their clothes. The thing that sets us apart is that we sort and hang our clothes according to category and size. This makes for pleasant viewing and practical application. Also, it is the right way to do it! And if something is worth doing, it is worth doing right.
8.We Heat our Homes with Wood
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Every year our hubbies go into the woods, cut, split and dry our wood for the coming season. Not everyone burns wood here but many of us still do. This is a traditional way of heating our homes and we prefer it to other methods. There’s nothing like wood heat to make your home feel cozy while warming you to the bone.
9.We Smoke Fish
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As you can imagine; being a coastal province allows for fishing to be at the forefront. Smoking fish is a traditional preservation method that is still used today. Many of our communities offer this fish for sale. I have even seen it sold at gas stations!!
10.We Prepare for the Coming Season
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Whether it is saving seeds from your harvest, battening down your home for winter or preserving your food in the fall, being prepared is part of being Nova Scotian. Our grandmother always refers to herself as being just like the squirrels! Preparing for the season ahead is part of our routines and our identity. Preparing for the seasons is a testament to our self sufficient and independent nature.
11.We Cut our Own Christmas Trees
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Every Christmas season we walk through the woods with the cold at our face and the smell of pine and fur in the air looking for the perfect tree. Whether you go on your own land, or your family goes to a upick many of us still cut down our own Christmas tree. We are so well known for this that in fact we send a beautiful Christmas tree to Boston, Mass. every year in thanks for their help with the Halifax explosion of 1917. If you would like to learn more about this tradition click here https://novascotia.ca/treeforboston/ .
There are many elements that make Nova Scotia a unique and special place. Our ability to hold on to and incorporate traditions of the past is a major theme that still serves many of us today. If you ever get the chance, you should come and see for yourself!
With Love, Ellen and Elizabeth
Nova Scotia truly is amazing! The history and cultural makeup of the province is so fascinating and besides that, it’s just so beautiful year-round!
We totally agree! We love Nova Scotia so much!!