Known more commonly to many as “May Two Four,” Victoria Day is celebrated in Canada on the Monday immediately preceding May 25th. This year’s holiday falls on May 18th, the earliest possible date. May 24, 1819 does indeed mark the birthday of Queen Victoria, great-grandmother of Elizabeth II, whose record-long reign of 63 years and seven months was a period of significant industrial, cultural, political, and scientific change in England which came to be known as the Victorian era.
Canada is the only country in the world that celebrates Victoria Day, and it has done so since 1845. During Victoria’s reign, the holiday was celebrated on May 24th regardless of the day of the week that date fell on. After Victoria’s death in 1901, her son and successor, Edward VII, continued to celebrate his mother’s birthday, but with the ascension of Elizabeth II to the throne in 1953 Canada broke away from tradition, switching to the existing “Monday” rule and giving us the May long weekend. For many Canadians, the long weekend brings with it a welcome break and the first real warm weather holiday of the year. From all of us at NorthBridge Consultants, we hope you have a safe and relaxing holiday!
