May 20, 2013
Learn more about Victoria Day.
Tag Archives: victoria day
What is Victoria Day?
What is Victoria Day?
Victoria Day is a public Canadian holiday that commemorates the birthday of Queen Victoria, Queen of the United Kingdom from 1837-1901, and is also the official – not actual – birthday of Canada’s current Sovereign, which currently is Queen Elizabeth II. Similar to Memorial Day in the U.S., Victoria Day weekend also marks the unofficial beginning of spring and summer.
Several name changes complicate the holiday’s history, so here are a couple links to help explain the history of Victoria day:
Victoria Day, Canadian Heritage
Victoria Day in Canada, Time and Date
When is Victoria Day?
Victoria Day falls on the Monday before May 25. This year, Victoria Day falls on May 23.
How do people celebrate Victoria Day?
As a public holiday, banks, schools, post offices and some stores and restaurants close for the day. Victoria Day celebrations include parades and firework displays. Victoria Day weekend is the first popular weekend for summer travel, so many people go on vacation or open up their recreational homes for the summer.
Sources: timeanddate.com, farmersalmanac.com, gocanada.about.com
Happy Victoria Day, Ay! (May 24th)
Victoria Day is a celebration of Queen Victoria’s Birthday and also the official Canadian celebration of the reigning Monarch’s birthday. It is celebrated on the first Monday proceeding May 25th. It is a statutory holiday throughout all of Canada except the Atlantic Provinces (New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island). Victoria Day is the official Canadian Kick-off of Summer and is often celebrated with fireworks.
In Québec, since 2003 it has also been known as National Patriots’ Day to honor the rebellion against the British in 1837.
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