Royal Nova Scotia International Tattoo facts for kids
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| Abbreviation | RNSIT |
|---|---|
| Formation | 1979 |
| Type | Organizations based in Canada with royal patronage |
| Legal status | active |
| Purpose | advocate and public voice, educator and network |
| Location | |
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Official language
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English, French |
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Patron
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His Majesty The King |
| Website | https://nstattoo.ca |
The Royal Nova Scotia International Tattoo is an exciting show. It is like a big performance with military bands and special display teams. This show happens every year in Halifax, the capital city of Nova Scotia, Canada. It has been held since 1979 and takes place at the Scotiabank Centre.
What is the Royal Nova Scotia International Tattoo?
The Royal Nova Scotia International Tattoo is special because it's more like a play or a musical. It mixes military performers with civilian artists. This makes it different from other "Tattoos" around the world.
The show happens inside the Scotiabank Centre. This building looks a bit like a traditional theatre where the audience sits all around the stage. The performers wear amazing costumes. Everyone involved practices a lot! There are many people behind the scenes, like technical staff, choreographers (who create dances), and costume designers. They all work together to make the show fantastic.
A special idea called Bond of Friendship is part of the Nova Scotia Tattoo every year. This idea helps build good relationships between different countries. The show also adds new themes each year, often linked to important military anniversaries.
Over 2 million people have watched this show! Tens of thousands of performers from 21 different countries have taken part. The Tattoo also helps Nova Scotia's economy. It brings in millions of dollars for the province and the city of Halifax.
The Royal Nova Scotia International Tattoo Society puts on the show. They get help from the Canadian government, the Province of Nova Scotia, the Canadian Forces, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, and the city of Halifax. Many businesses also support the event.
Most of the work for the Tattoo is done by volunteers. It is a registered charity in Canada. This means it is a non-profit organization that helps the community.
History of the Tattoo
The word Tattoo comes from an old Dutch phrase, doe den tap toe. This means "turn off the taps." In the 1600s, when British soldiers needed to return to their barracks, a drummer would march through the streets. The drummer would play a special beat called doe den tap toe. This signal told innkeepers to stop serving drinks and for soldiers to go back to their homes.
The first Nova Scotia Tattoo happened in 1979. But a big event before that helped inspire it: the Canadian Armed Forces Tattoo. This huge show was part of Canada's 100th birthday celebrations in 1967. It was one of the biggest touring shows ever! It traveled across Canada for eight months, visiting many cities like Victoria, Vancouver, Toronto, and Montreal.
A military officer named Ian Fraser had experience with these types of shows. He helped create the 1967 Canadian Armed Forces Tattoo. Later, in 1979, he was asked to organize a new Tattoo for a special visit to Nova Scotia. Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother was visiting for the International Gathering of the Clans. This was the first time this big Scottish event happened outside Scotland. Colonel Fraser had only six months to put the show together!
After the 1979 show was a success, the government of Nova Scotia decided to make it a regular event. It became a popular cultural event and an important part of the local economy. It grew into a nine-day production.
Because the show became so international, its name was officially changed in 1988 to The Nova Scotia International Tattoo.
On May 4, 2006, something very special happened. Queen Elizabeth II gave the Tattoo the title "Royal." This means it is now called the Royal Nova Scotia International Tattoo. The announcement was made at Government House in Nova Scotia by Lieutenant-Governor Myra Freeman.
See also
- List of Canadian organizations with royal patronage
- Monarchy of Canada
- Quebec City International Festival of Military Bands
