Orangemen's Day commemorates the victory of King William III, a Protestant, at the Battle of the Boyne in 1690. It pays tribute to the religious, political, and social heritage of the Protestants in this region. Orangemen's Day is often associated with the Orange Order, a Protestant fraternal organization that aims to preserve and promote Protestantism.
The Orange Order was established in Ireland in 1795 and expanded to Newfoundland in 1863 with the formation of lodges. With Newfoundland being home to one of the largest Irish Catholic and Protestant populations in Canada, this day holds significance to many Newfoundlanders. The Orange Order played a noteworthy role in the island's social and political life in the 19th and early 20th centuries, shaping the development of the province's institutions, including its education system.
In Newfoundland and Labrador, Orangemen's Day is observed with parades, lodge gatherings, and community events organized by the Orange Order. The parades feature participants in traditional attire, with orange sashes and symbolic regalia, accompanied by music. Orangemen's Day is a public holiday in the province and typically falls on July 12th. When this date falls on a Sunday, the holiday is observed on the following Monday, meaning that the celebrations and events take place on the weekend or on the nearest weekday.
Top Tweets for Orangemen's Day
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Happy Orangemen’s Day (Newfoundland) to all!
Orangemen's Day commemorates the Battle of the Boyne, which took place in 1690 outside Drogheda, Ireland. Orangemen's parades were commonplace in many Newfoundland communities by the end of the 19th century. https://t.co/FD7DKbRb8d
— Dominion Aesthetics (@CanadianAesth) July 10, 2023
The NLESD would like to wish Happy Orangemen’s Day to everyone who observes this holiday. This holiday has a unique history in NL as it is celebrated on the Monday nearest to July 12th. Some areas reschedule it in the winter so fishermen are able to celebrate the holiday. https://t.co/fRcNSDErqQ
Due to the Orangemen’s Day holiday on Mon. July 10, most City offices will be closed. The bi-weekly City Council meeting will take place on Tues. July 11 at 3 p.m.
Learn more: https://t.co/09nL6fBsAT https://t.co/ATL6wDSQbE
— City of St. John's (@CityofStJohns) July 6, 2023
Our office will be closed on Monday, July 10 in observance of Orangemen’s Day. https://t.co/CqO5mshShR
📢 TAKE NOTE:
Motor Registration offices and Government Service Centre's throughout the province are closed on Monday, July 10, 2023, in observance of Orangemen's Day.
#GovNL #nltraffic
📱 Some services are available online at https://t.co/qyABKgGN3N.
— Digital Government and Service NL (@DGS_GovNL) July 7, 2023
Please note that in observance of the Orangemen's Day holiday, city hall will be closed on Monday, July 10th, and reopening on Tuesday, July 11th.
📢Public Holiday 📢
All NLPL branches will be closed today for the Orangemen’s Day public holiday.
You can still request/renew materials online at https://t.co/bxTUiiTUhk or use the Digital Library while our branches are closed:
➡️ https://t.co/jjxSRXJUTQ https://t.co/kEhipnId18
— NL Public Libraries (@NLPubLibraries) July 10, 2023
The Town Hall will be closed today at 1:30pm. In addition, the Town Hall, Municipal Depot and Torbay History House and Museum will be closed on Monday July 10, 2023 in observance of the Orangemen’s Day Holiday.
The Torbay Common and splash pad will be open. https://t.co/b3m6QynCCW
ICNL will be closed on Monday for Orangemen’s Day and reopening on Tuesday, July 11th. Enjoy your weekend😎 https://t.co/r91WwTBnTr
— Inclusion Canada Newfoundland and Labrador (@InclusionCanNL) July 7, 2023
Top facts about Orangemen's Day
Every year parades are held all around the world to celebrate Orangemen's Day. The longest running parade in North America is said to be the Orangemen's parade in Toronto. It is said to have been held since 1821.
The first Orange lodge in Newfoundland was established in the capital city, St. John's, in 1815.
The Orange Order was an international Protestant order originally based in Northern Ireland. It was established in Canada in 1830 by Irish immigrant Ogle Gowan. The primary goal of the order was to protect Protestant civil and religious liberties. It spread across Canada and attracted many members. In the 1950s, about 35% of the men in Newfoundland and Labrador belonged to the order.
According to the tradition, if it rains on Orangemen's Day, it means forty days of wet weather will follow.
Those who march in the parade often wear a dark suit, an Orange sash, white gloves, and a bowler hat.
Orange parades were often sources of tension and sometimes violence, known as Orange riots, between Protestant and Catholic communities in the 19th and early 20th centuries.
In the News and Trending for Orangemen's Day
Top things to do for Orangemen's Day
Plan a vacation or trip with families and friends as this holiday is a provincial paid holiday for many.
Attend a march or parade. Although they were more popular several decades ago, many still participate in them.
Use the occasion to learn more about the history and significance of the Battle of the Boyne and the Orange Order.
Several places like Lodge’s rooms are open to the public where historical artifacts related to the Orangemen's are displayed.
Some people enjoy spending the day off fishing - it is, after all, summer.
