As many people enjoy the Victoria Day long weekend, it’s worth pointing out the origins of the holiday.
The May 24 long weekend is named in honour of Queen Victoria, the ruler of the British Empire for more than 60 years until she died in 1901.
May 24th, Victoria’s birthday, had been celebrated in Canada since at least 1845, but changes to the holiday came after her death.
Eventually, the government of Canada passed a law stating May 24th would be the official birthday of the ruling monarch of the Commonwealth, no matter what their actual birthdate was.
Victoria Day is fast approaching! pic.twitter.com/9SKSBmZHcj
— Monarchist League (@monarchist) May 13, 2017
In part because of her importance to the creation of Canada, this country is the only place where Queen Victoria is honoured with an official holiday.
She was Queen during Canada’s Confederation in 1867, and she was also the one who decided Ottawa would be the capital city of the country.
