Queen Victoria
was sovereign when Canada was founded in 1867.
Celebrated annually on the Monday preceding May 25, Victoria Day is a statutory holiday in Canada that commemorates the birthdays of all ruling British monarchs, including the current queen. Although each monarchs' actual birth dates are varied, this holiday was established as overall recognition of the sovereigns' birthdays. Victoria Day is often referred to by Canadians as the May Long Weekend.
History
According to City TV Toronto, Victoria Day started in 1845 as celebration of Queen Victoria's birthday. Queen Victoria was the sitting monarch when Canada was founded as a British colony in 1867. In the early years of this holiday, it was celebrated on the Queen's actual date of birth, May 24. If that date fell on a Sunday then the holiday would be recognized on May 25 instead. By 1952, the government of Canada declared that Victoria Day would permanently be celebrated on the Monday preceding May 25.
Traditions
The Canadian Flag, along with the Royal Union Flag are flown together from sunrise to sunset on Victoria Day. The flags are seen flown on two separate flag poles on most federal buildings and at military bases.
Victoria Day is a traditional holiday in Canada but is not recognized in most parts of England.
Significance
The first long weekend to unofficially kick off the summer season in Canada is Victoria Day. The holiday signifies a start to the gardening, golfing and barbecue season. This is the weekend where summer travel begins and people open up their cottages and lake properties. It is marked as the beginning to the warm summer months and an end to overnight frosts.
Celebrations
Fireworks, community picnics and parades are used to celebrate this long weekend in some areas. Victoria Day is notably a low-key holiday in Canada with few official government celebrations. The holiday is celebrated as a day off of work with little emphasis placed on the historic origins of the day.
Considerations
The Victoria Day long weekend is not recognized in the provinces of New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island. In the province of Quebec, the holiday is known as National Patriots Day.
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