Commonwealth Day is the annual celebration of the Commonwealth of Nations on the second Monday in March every year, which is marked by a multi-faith service in Westminster Abbey attended by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Head of the Commonwealth, the Commonwealth Secretary-General and the Commonwealth High Commissioners in London. The Queen delivers an address to the Commonwealth which is broadcast throughout the world on the BBC.
While it has a certain official status, Commonwealth Day is not a public holiday in most Commonwealth countries and there is very little public awareness of it.
History
After the death of Queen Victoria in 1901, her birthday May 24 was made an annual commemoration known as Empire Day. In 1958 Empire Day was renamed Commonwealth Day, and from 1977 it has been celebrated on the second Monday in March rather than in May.
Other holidays
Although Commonwealth Day is not widely known, many Commonwealth countries do have at least one public holiday that commemorates monarchist traditions.
From 1953 EmpireDay was made the date of the Queen's official birthday in Canada by annual Vice-regal proclamation, the link being made permanent in 1957.
In 1977 Commonwealth Day was moved to the second Monday in March, but Canadians continued to celebrate Victoria Day in May. In Canada, this holiday and Canada Day are celebrated with fireworks, though Victoria Day is a decidedly lower-key event.
Monarchist groups often use Victoria Day as a day of celebration, but to the majority of Canadians the day is simply a holiday off from work, with little specific meaning.
Commonwealth Day is the annual celebration of the Commonwealth of Nations held on the second Monday in March, and which is marked by a multi-faith service in Westminster Abbey attended by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Head of the Commonwealth, the Commonwealth Secretary-General and the Commonwealth High Commissioners in London.
In 1958EmpireDay was renamed Commonwealth Day, and from 1977 it has been celebrated on the second Monday in March rather than in May.
Although Commonwealth Day is not widely known, many Commonwealth countries do have at least one public holiday that commemorates monarchist traditions.
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