The original anniversary day celebrated by the Canterbury Province was December 16th. Like several other provinces, this date marked the arrival of the first ships to the region. In Canterbury, the first two ships, the Charlotte Jane and the Randolph arrived on December 16th 1850.
The Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association’s Metropolitan Show is the largest agricultural and pastoral show in New Zealand and has taken place since 1859.
By at least 1918, the Friday of Show Week had become known as People’s Day or Show Day. In the 1950s the official provincial holiday for the anniversary day of the province was changed from December 16th to the Friday of Show Week. This move allowed banks and businesses to close and for people from the region to attend the show.
The date for Show Day is the second Friday after the first Tuesday of November. This date avoids any clash with the Melbourne Cup which is held on the first Tuesday in November.
The anniversary day of Christchurch Show Day is observed in Central and North Canterbury. South Canterbury observes Dominion Day (the fourth Monday of September) as its anniversary day. It may be seen as strange for a province to have two anniversary days, but since many of the regions celebrate provinces that were abolished in 1879, it’s not worth worrying about.