Victoria Day


Victoria Day is, as its name suggests, the birthday of Queen Victoria (born 1819, died 1901 and reigned from 1837 until her death). It is a holiday in Canada, where it has been celebrated since 1845.

The British have a custom of celebrating the birthday of the reigning monarch and the Legislature of the Province of Canada declared that May 24 would be a holiday in Queen Victoria’s honour. If the day should fall on a Sunday, it was celebrated on May 25.

In 1901, the year of Victoria’s death, the Parliament of Canada established the day as a legal holiday. It then became known as Empire Day and in 1947, the name was changed to Commonwealth Day.

In 1952, this Act was amended to establish Victoria Day on the Monday preceding May 24. In 1957 the Parliament of Canada decreed that Victoria Day would always be kept as the official celebration of the Queen Elizabeth’s birthday. Her real birthday is April 21.

Victoria Day is traditionally celebrated with fireworks. For more information, go to http://www.pch.gc.ca/ceremonial-symb/eng...

The copyright of the article Victoria Day in Modern Customs is owned by Linda Campbell. Permission to republish Victoria Day in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

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