Victoria Day
Victoria, first sovereign of a confederated Canada.
Official name	English: Victoria Day French: Fête de la Reine
Also called	May Two-four, May Long
Observed by	Canadians (Canada)
Type	Historical, Cultural, Nationalist
Date	May 24
2008 date	May 19
Celebrations	Fireworks, parades
Related to	Reigning sovereign's birthday

Queen Elizabeth II in Canada for her official birthday, Victoria Day 2005, Edmonton, Alberta

Victoria Day (French: Fête de la Reine) is a Canadian statutory holiday celebrated on the last Monday before or on May 24 in honour of both Queen Victoria's birthday and the current reigning Canadian sovereign's birthday. Image File history File links Dronning_victoria. ... Queen Victoria redirects here. ... The Dominion of Canada was created by the British North America Act (now known as the Constitution Act) of 1867. ... We dont have an article called Canadian-confederation Start this article Search for Canadian-confederation in. ... The English language is a West Germanic language that originates in England. ... Nationalism is an ideology that creates and sustains a nation as a concept of a common identity for groups of humans. ... is the 144th day of the year (145th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 139th day of the year (140th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For other uses, see Fireworks (disambiguation). ... This article is about the monarchy of Canada, one of sixteen that share a common monarch; for information about this constitutional relationship, the other Commonwealth realm monarchies, and other relevant articles, see Commonwealth realm; for information on the reigning monarch, see Elizabeth II. Queen of Canada redirects here. ... For other uses, see Birthday (disambiguation). ... Image File history File links May23_12. ... Image File history File links May23_12. ... This article is about the city in Alberta, Canada. ... For other uses, see Alberta (disambiguation). ... French (le français, la langue française) is one of the most important Romance languages, outnumbered in speakers only by Spanish and Portuguese. ... Canadian national holidays (with provincial exceptions)[1]: Each province of Canada has its own provincial holiday(s). ... is the 144th day of the year (145th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Queen Victoria redirects here. ... This article is about the monarchy of Canada, one of sixteen that share a common monarch; for information about this constitutional relationship, the other Commonwealth realm monarchies, and other relevant articles, see Commonwealth realm; for information on the reigning monarch, see Elizabeth II. Queen of Canada redirects here. ... For other uses, see Birthday (disambiguation). ...

While Victoria Day is often thought of as a purely Canadian event, it is also celebrated in some parts of Scotland, particularly in Edinburgh and Dundee, as well as in the Cayman Islands, where it is also a public holiday. For other uses, see Edinburgh (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Dundee (disambiguation). ...

History

The birthday of the monarch was a day for celebration in Canada long before confederation. On May 24, 1854, 5,000 residents of Upper Canada gathered in front of Government House (near present day King and Simcoe Streets, in Toronto) to "give cheers to their queen."^[1] We dont have an article called Canadian-confederation Start this article Search for Canadian-confederation in. ... is the 144th day of the year (145th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1854 (MDCCCLIV) was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... Flag Map of Upper Canada (orange) Capital Newark 1792 - 1797 York(later renamed Toronto in 1834) 1797 - 1841 Language(s) English Religion Anglican Government Constitutional monarchy Sovereign  - 1791-1820 George III  - 1837-1841 Victoria Lieutenant-Governor See list of Lieutenant-Governors Legislature Parliament of Upper Canada  - Upper house Legislative Council... The first official residence of the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario located in downtown Toronto. ... King Street is a major east-west commercial thoroughfare in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. ...

Since 1901, the date of May 24 was known throughout the British Empire as Empire Day. An amendment to the Statutes of Canada in 1952 moved the holiday to the Monday before May 25. However, over the decades the official date of the reigning sovereign's birthday changed through various royal proclamations. For Edward VII, it continued on May 24, but was June 3 for George V, June 23 for Edward VIII (their actual birthdays), and various days between May 20 and June 14 through George VI's reign as King of Canada. From 1953, Empire Day was made the date of Queen Elizabeth II's official birthday in Canada by annual vice-regal proclamation, the link being made permanent in 1957. In 1958 Empire Day was renamed Commonwealth Day. is the 144th day of the year (145th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For a comprehensive list of the territories that formed the British Empire, see Evolution of the British Empire. ... 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... is the 145th day of the year (146th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Edward VII (Albert Edward; 9 November 1841 – 6 May 1910) was King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, of the British Dominions beyond the Seas, and Emperor of India from 22 January 1901 until his death on 6 May 1910. ... George V (George Frederick Ernest Albert; 3 June 1865 – 20 January 1936) was the first British monarch belonging to the House of Windsor, which he created from the British branch of the German House of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha. ... Edward VIII (Edward Albert Christian George Andrew Patrick David; later The Prince Edward, Duke of Windsor; 23 June 1894 – 28 May 1972) was King of Great Britain, Ireland, the British Dominions beyond the Seas, and Emperor of India from the death of his father, George V (1910–36), on 20... is the 140th day of the year (141st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 165th day of the year (166th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... George VI (Albert Frederick Arthur George; 14 December 1895 – 6 February 1952) was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions from 11 December 1936 until his death. ... The Governor General and Commander-in-Chief in and over Canada, normally simply known as the Governor General of Canada in French, Gouverneur(e) général(e) is the Canadian representative of the monarch (presently Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II). ... 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 normally attended by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Head of the Commonwealth, the Commonwealth Secretary-General and the Commonwealth High...

In 1977 Commonwealth Day was moved to the second Monday in March, but Canadians continued to celebrate Victoria Day in May.

The reigning Canadian monarch has been in Canada for his or her official birthday twice: the first time being on May 20, 1939, when King George VI was on a coast-to-coast tour of Canada and his official birthday was celebrated with a Trooping the Colour ceremony on Parliament Hill. The second time was when Queen Elizabeth II was in Canada from May 17 to May 25, 2005, to mark the centennials of the entries of Saskatchewan and Alberta into Confederation; no events were organized to acknowledge this fact. is the 140th day of the year (141st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1939 (MCMXXXIX) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... George VI (Albert Frederick Arthur George; 14 December 1895 – 6 February 1952) was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions from 11 December 1936 until his death. ... Mounted Bands at Trooping the Colour 2006. ... Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor; born 21 April 1926) is Queen of sixteen sovereign states, holding each crown and title equally. ... is the 137th day of the year (138th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 145th day of the year (146th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... This article is about the Canadian province. ... For other uses, see Alberta (disambiguation). ... A confederation is an association of sovereign states or communities, usually created by treaty but often later adopting a common constitution. ...

Celebrations

Victoria Day 2005 fireworks display from Ontario Place, Toronto

Several Canadian cities hold a parade in honour of the holiday, with the most famous being in the monarch's namesake city of Victoria, British Columbia. This holiday is also often celebrated with fireworks shows. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (480x640, 100 KB)Victoria Day 2005 firework display from Ontario Place, Toronto This image has been (or is hereby) released into the public domain by its creator, kvasir. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (480x640, 100 KB)Victoria Day 2005 firework display from Ontario Place, Toronto This image has been (or is hereby) released into the public domain by its creator, kvasir. ... Ontario Place Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Ontario Place Ontario Place is a multiple use entertainment and seasonal amusement park in Toronto, Canada and owned by the Province of Ontario. ... United States Marines on parade. ... This article is about the city of Victoria. ... For other uses, see Fireworks (disambiguation). ...

Victoria Day is regarded as the beginning of the unofficial summer season in Canada, and is thus the weekend when many businesses, parks, etc., that operate during warm weather months, will open. This long weekend also often signifies the beginning of spring to gardeners in much of the country, as it falls around the time when they can be fairly certain frost will not return until the next autumn or winter. For much the same reason, because colder parts of the country winterise their recreational cabins and turn off water pumps, this weekend can also mark the beginning of the cottage season with cottagers making their first visits to check and clean their properties. A gardener is any person involved in the growing and maintenance of plants, notably in a garden. ... Frost on black pipes Frost is a solid deposition of water vapor from saturated air. ...

In some parts of Canada, the holiday is colloquially known as May Two-Four.^[2][3] This phrase has two meanings: the holiday always falls on the May 24, and a two-four is Canadian slang for a case of 24 bottles of beer, the most common packaging of Canadian beer. It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with List of words mainly used in Canadian English. ... Major brewers like Molson produce brands of beer which are now part of the Canadian identity, such as Molson Dry. ...

The rock band Rush referred to Victoria Day celebrations in their song "Lakeside Park" when they sang of gathering at Lakeside Park (Port Dalhousie) and watching a fireworks display. Rush is a Canadian rock band originally formed in August 1968, in the Willowdale neighbourhood of Toronto, Ontario; presently comprised of bassist, keyboardist, and lead vocalist Geddy Lee, guitarist Alex Lifeson, and drummer and lyricist Neil Peart. ...

Provincially

In many parts of Canada, the Victoria Day long weekend is known as the May Long Weekend. In Ontario, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and some other parts of Canada, this holiday weekend is also known as May Long, May Run (mainly in Timmins, Ontario, and some other regional communities of Northeastern Ontario), or May Two-Four, as above. This article is about city in Ontario, Canada. ...

Though, as a federal holiday, it is still an official holiday in Quebec, the Quebec National Assembly has dedicated the same day as a provincial holiday: National Patriotes Day (Journée nationale des patriotes), which commemorates the English-Canadian and French-Canadian Patriotes of the Lower Canada Rebellion of 1837. Before 2003 the holiday in Québec was referred to by some as the Fête de Dollard, after Adam Dollard des Ormeaux. This article is about the Canadian province. ... The Quebec Parliament Building at night The National Assembly is the legislative body of the Canadian province of Quebec. ... The National Patriotes Day (French Journée nationale des Patriotes) is celebrated on the same day as the Victoria Day, a Canadian Statutory Holiday celebrated annually on the Monday preceding May 25. ... Flag used by the Patriotes between 1832 and 1838 The Lower Canada Rebellion is the name given to the armed conflict between the rebels of Lower Canada (now Quebec) and the British colonial power of that province. ... Flag used by the Patriotes between 1832 and 1838 The Lower Canada Rebellion is the name given to the armed conflict between the rebels of Lower Canada (now Quebec) and the British colonial power of that province. ... Adam Dollard des Ormeaux likes it in the bum w00t, (1635 – May, 1660), usually known simply as Dollard des Ormeaux, was a colonist of New France who, as garrison commander, led his companions from the fort of the newly founded town of Ville Marie (also known as Montreal) in 1660...

References

1. ^ Killbourn, William; Toronto Remembered; Soddart Publishing, Toronto; 1984; Pg. 105
2. ^ Canadian Oxford Dictionary, Second Edition, 2004
3. ^ CBC News Indepth, 5,000 new words

See also

• Commonwealth Day
• Monarchy of Canada

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 normally attended by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Head of the Commonwealth, the Commonwealth Secretary-General and the Commonwealth High... This article is about the monarchy of Canada, one of sixteen that share a common monarch; for information about this constitutional relationship, the other Commonwealth realm monarchies, and other relevant articles, see Commonwealth realm; for information on the reigning monarch, see Elizabeth II. Queen of Canada redirects here. ...

External links

• The Government of Canada's page on Victoria Day
• Text of Governor General Michaëlle Jean's message for Victoria Day, 2007

v • d • e Queen Elizabeth II
Titles and honours	List of titles and honours · Head of the Commonwealth
Commonwealth	Queen of Antigua and Barbuda  · Queen of Australia  · Queen of Barbados  · Queen of Belize  · Queen of Canada  · Queen of Jamaica  · Queen of New Zealand  · Queen of the Solomon Islands  · Queen of the United Kingdom  · Prime Ministers
Overseas visits	State visits · Commonwealth visits
Public celebrations	Silver Jubilee · Golden Jubilee · Queen's Official Birthday · Victoria Day