Happy Victoria Day from The Toronto Traveler
Okay, so I’m a little bit behind the ball here since Victoria Day started about 19 hours ago (my time) and ends in about 5 hours, but I still felt it important to convey best wishes on a holiday that is important to Canadians, although not necessarily celebrated in earnest by any other country in the world. While there are other countries such as Scotland that do celebrate Victoria Day in some areas, all of Canada celebrates it and that makes it an important topic for The Toronto Traveler.
Speaking Victoria Day like a Torontonian
While Victoria Day is most definitely the official title of the holiday in Toronto, you’ll also hear it referred to on a frequent basis as the May Long Weekend, because it happens to be a federal statutory holiday in nine provinces and three territories, with Quebec also celebrating a provincial holiday at the same time. Other more colloquial ways to refer to Victoria Day are May Long, May Run and The May Two-Four, in honour of the term we use for a case of 24 bottles of beer!
The History of Victoria Day
May 24th is the birth date of Queen Victoria, the first sovereign of Canada after confederation in 1867. Before that however there was already a tradition of celebrating Victoria’s birthday as in 1854 on May 24th over 5000 residents of what was then known as Upper Canada gathered to celebrate the Queen’s birthday.
In 1901, May 24th was declared Empire Day throughout the British Empire, although because each new sovereign had a different birthday, chaos tended to ensue with people not being exactly sure when each successive yearly celebration of Empire Day would take place. Eventually, Empire Day became Victoria Day and was settled as being on the Monday on or before May 24th, Queen Victoria’s birthday.
This way the day would be known well in advance every year and there would be less confusion on when to celebrate it. Incidentally enough, Victoria Day as a holiday often coincides with Memorial Day in the United States, although this year the two dates will be missing each other by a week.
Celebrating Victoria Day
The best way to celebrate Victoria Day in any part of the city is fireworks! And indeed, there are many public places within Toronto that have fireworks on this day as well as many individuals that go out to open areas and light fireworks of their own. If you keep your eyes peeled to the sky once twilight and night hit the city, you should definitely be able to see one sweet show.
There are also parades in many cities on Victoria Day, the most famous of which takes place in Victoria, British Columbia. That city was named after the monarch, so it seems only fitting that the largest parade happen there each and every year.
So once again, The Toronto Traveller wishes you all a very happy Victoria Day!
6 Comments
My husband is Canadian and he forgot to wish his family Happy Victoria Day. Thanks for the reminder. No beer drinking going on today, do you think? Happy early Memorial Day to you!
Kim – thanks for your wishes!
Well, I don’t customarily drink beer on Victoria Day, although I’m sure that there are some people that do (any excuse will do). Mostly though, people have fun checking out the firework displays, some of which are happening right outside my window as I type this message
Happy Victoria Day!
Heather – thanks! And Happy Victoria Day to you too
I had to laugh when i read Kim’s comment as i am an expat Canadian who talked to her Mom this morning and did not send her holiday wishes….oops!
My excuse is that I an a Canadian who married an American who is now living in Tokyo! I can barely remember which time zone I am in sometimes let alone all the holidays of each country….
Thanks for the reminder and I’ll be sure to apologize to my Mom tomorrow.
And a Happy Belated Victoria day to you too!
Shane – Thanks for your kind wishes!
No problem, I’ve actually found just from my own personal experience that when people leave Canada to move elsewhere long term, remembering Victoria Day is usually one of the first things to go