Victoria Day (Canada)
Victoria Day is a Canadian holiday celebrated on the Monday preceding May 25, honoring the birthday of Queen Victoria, born on May 24, 1819. She reigned as queen from 1837 until her death in 1901, marking a period during which Canada was one of her territories. The holiday became a public celebration in 1845, following a declaration by the Province of Canada’s legislature. After her passing, the Canadian parliament officially named the holiday Victoria Day, with a formal observance established for May 24, or May 25 if it fell on a Sunday. The current practice of observing Victoria Day on the preceding Monday was enacted in 1952, becoming a permanent holiday in 1957. Celebrations typically include parades, marching bands, and speeches, reflecting the holiday's historical significance. Notably, the longstanding Island Farms Victoria Day Parade in Victoria was canceled in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This holiday not only celebrates a historical figure but also serves as a marker of the beginning of summer activities across Canada.
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Victoria Day (Canada)
Victoria Day (Canada)
Victoria Day is a Canadian holiday that takes place on the Monday prior to May 25 of every year. It honors the birthday of Queen Victoria, who was born on May 24, 1819, and ruled as queen of England and all its various possessions, including Canada, from 1837 until her death in 1901. She was the longest-reigning monarch in British history. May 24 first became a public holiday in 1845 by declaration of the legislature of the Province of Canada. After the queen's death in 1901, the Canadian parliament gave it the name Victoria Day, to be celebrated on May 24 of every year, unless May 24 fell on a Sunday, in which case the holiday would be observed on May 25. In 1952 the modern custom of celebrating Victoria Day on the Monday preceding May 25 was established by statute and announced annually by proclamation until 1957, when it became a permanent holiday. Victoria Day is most commonly celebrated with parades, marching bands, floats, and speeches by prominent politicians. Due to health concerns surrounding the global COVID-19 outbreak that began in late 2019, the large Island Farms Victoria Day Parade, which takes place in the city of Victoria and had been held without fail for 122 years, was canceled.
Bibliography
Harris, Carolyn. "Victoria Day." The Canadian Encyclopedia, 13 May 2015, www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/victoria-day. Accessed 1 Apr. 2020.
Parker, Alan. "Why Canada Is the Only Country in the World to Celebrate Victoria Day." Maclean's, 18 May 2012, www.macleans.ca/news/canada/victoria-day-only-in-canada/. Accessed 1 Apr. 2020.
"Victoria Day." Government of Canada, 24 Oct. 2018, www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/services/important-commemorative-days/victoria-day.html. Accessed 1 Apr. 2020.