Happy Victoria Day!

[Kathryn41 3,205]

Here's some trivia for you about the 2-4 Holiday weekend!

The twenty fourth of May

Is the Queen's birthday

And if we don't get a holiday

We'll all run away

---School child's rhyme

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.

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 . . .

Victoria Day is regarded as the beginning of the unofficial summer season in Canada, ... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victoria_Day

The Sovereign's birthday has been celebrated in Canada since the reign of Queen Victoria (1837-1901).

May 24, Queen Victoria's birthday, was declared a holiday by the Legislature of the Province of Canada in 1845.

After Confederation, the Queen's birthday was celebrated every year on May 24 . . . .

After the death of Queen Victoria in 1901, an Act was passed by the Parliament of Canada establishing a legal holiday on May 24 . . .

http://www.canadianheritage.gc.ca/progs/cp.../victoria_e.cfm

[warlord 73]

If it's on May 24th then how come they're celebrating it on the 19th instead? 5/24/08 is on Sat this year of next weekend when Memorial Day weekend is. Strange...

[Kathryn41 3,205]

Yep - that is why when you hear Canadians asking 'when is the May 24th weekend this year?' it isn't necessarily a ridiculous question, hehehehe.

It used to be celebrated on the actual day - I don't recall when it was moved to be on the closest Monday prior to the actual 24th:-).

[Carlawarla 1]

Thanks for posting Kathyrn! It's nice to get two holidays in May!