Victoria Day or National Patriotes Day

Victoria Day is the Celebration of the birthday of the Canadian Monarch. It’s a federal statutory holiday, except in New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island. In Quebec, Victoria Day and National Patriotes Day (Commemoration of the Lower Canada Rebellion) are celebrated on the same day.

The Sovereign’s birthday has been celebrated in Canada since the reign of Queen Victoria (1837-1901). In 1901, after the death of Queen Victoria, an Act was passed by the Parliament of Canada and May 24 in each year (or May 25 if May 24 fell on a Sunday) was declared as a legal holiday in Canada.

Queen Victoria was born on May 24, 1819, at Kensington Palace, London. After the death of King William IV, she becomes the Monarch at the age of 18. In 1840 Queen married Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, who was her first cousin and his father was her mother’s brother. On 22 January 1901 at the age of 81, Queen Victoria passed away and the Victorian era came to an end, which lasted for 63 years, seven months, and two days. British Colombia’s capital is “Victoria” and is named after her, and the capital of Saskatchewan  (Regina) is also named in memory of the very first Queen of the British Empire.