July 1 is Canada Day, so let’s throw a little tattoo celebration for our friends north of the border. The holiday is akin to our Independence Day as it celebrates the creation of the Canadian Confederation (the consolidation of the British colonies of Canada, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick into a single entity) in 1867, so in a way it is the country’s birthday. Since Canadians have always been far more polite than their neighbors to the south, the confederation didn’t kick off a long and brutal war for independence. They simply remained a part of the British Empire, albeit one with a ton of autonomy, all the way until 1982. Despite that, many still consider the day to be Canada’s birthday and who are we to argue with that? 

You’re not here for a Canadian history lesson, nor am I the one who should be teaching said lesson to start with. So let’s get on with the tattoos, eh? 

The Flag

Canada has a top tier flag—simple, bold and instantly recognizable. Even if you aren’t an obsessive about world flags (I’m a bit of a nerd), you take one look at the maple leaf and you know that’s Canada’s flag. Naturally, a lot of proud Canadians have inked the flag into their skin. 

The Maple Leaf

Hey, remember in the last paragraph when we talked about why the Canadian flag was so recognizable? Yeah, the maple leaf is a pretty big deal. 

Hockey

As we write this article the Montreal Canadians are hoping to bring the Stanley Cup back to its home country for the first time since 1993, but even without recent success, hockey is a pretty big deal in Canada. The winter sport was born there and many kids learn how to skate before they can even walk. 

Beavers

Beavers rule. The industrious mammals are beyond adorable. If you don’t believe me, just listen to the little noises they make. Beyond that, beavers are one of the national animals of Canada. There’s even a statue of a beaver at parliament. 

Poutine

If you haven’t tried poutine, well, you haven’t lived. What’s not to love about fries smothered in gravy and topped with gooey cheese curds? The delicacy was born in Quebec during the ’50s, but it has clogged arteries all over the world since then. 

Famous Canadians

Check out these famous Canadians! 

Mooses? Meese? Moose? I think it’s moose. 

While not quite as beloved as the beaver, the moose is also revered in Canada. They’re massive beasts with impressive racks of antlers. I would not want to get in the way of one of them. 

Some of our favorite Canadian tattooers

Curling

Let’s be honest, it’s impossible to describe curling without the sport sounding idiotic. You slide an incredibly heavy stone down the ice and use brooms to control where it goes. But a lot of sports—like golf or bowling or baseball—sound equally dumb until you try them. And I’m happy to report to you, curling is a ton of fun. Don’t knock it if you haven’t tried it. 

Other Canadian things! 

There are so many other things we love about Canada that don’t fit neatly into a category—Tim Horton’s, the CN Tower, that awesome bat flip by Joey Bats.

Happy Canada Day!