The Broflovskis are singing "Chanukah," a Hebrew folk song:
Chanukah, Chanukah
Sivivon, sov, sov
Sov, sov, sov! Sov, sov, sov!
Ma nayim vi-tov.
Translation
Chanukah, Chanukah,
watch the dreydel spin.
Spin and turn, spin and turn
While the candles burn.
This year (2003) Chanukah began on December 19, and on this night did Ike's natural parents visit the Broflovskis to get Peter back. The next day, December 20, a quick trial is held and Ike is given back to the Gintses. Before the boys head for Canada, Kyle says it's been a week since Ike was taken away. When the boys leave for Canada on City Airlines, it's December 22, just two days after the trial and verdict releasing Ike to his natural parents. How did Kyle get a week out of that?
"Follow the Only Road" - refers to the one highway going from one end of Canada to the other, the trans-Canada highway. A look at the highway shows that Mr. Kim most likely flew to Regina and bailed out there. The boys followed the trans-Canada highway eastward through Brandon, Winnipeg, on through Ottawa (their Mountie apparently didn't know they were crossing this city at the time), Montreal, Quebec City, Edmunston, and then a short ferry ride to Newfoundland. The Newfie then took the whole group back to Ottawa by boat - up the St. Lawrence River, then up the Ottawa River at Montreal to Ottawa.
Canada being portrayed as magical and superclean - well, compared to US cities, yep. :)
Paul Martin was sworn in as Canada 's 21st prime minister on Friday, 12/12/2003, and immediately made sweeping changes to the government after Jean Chretien ended his decade in power. This is reflected in the new laws the new PM of Canada created in the episode.
Laws the new PM passed (and whom they affected):
All Canadian kids adopted by foreigners are to be returned to Canada. (Kyle)
Mounties are to ride sheep instead of horses. (Rick, the Mountie)
No more wine in French Canada (Quebec) (the Mime)
No more sodomy in Newfoundland (Steve, the Newfoundlander)
"bullshit" made it through this time. :)
In order of appearance, the Mountie replaces the Scarecrow, the French mime replaces the Tin Man, the Newfoundlander replaces the Cowardly Lion.
"Twenty hours until Christmas." - That's 4 a.m. During the winter, 4 a.m. is still night in Canada, but the sky is bright blue.
Right after Stan discovers Saddam, he turns his head to the left, and Kenny's remains are gone from his face. The next scene they are back on, but they are different from the ones on his face earlier.
"don't mind that guy hiding in the spider hole" - a spider hole is what the US forces found Saddam in when they found him in December 2003.
"Ahh, don't shoot. I want to negotiate. Hey, relax!" - When Saddam was captured in real life, he said "Don't shoot! I am Saddam Hussein! I am the President of the Republic of Iraq and I wish to negotiate!"
Changes: - The Mime lost the yellow tinge around his head, and the Doorman gets a red uniform and black hat instead of the green uniform and hat he wore in the preview pic.