Today (May 18) in Canada is celebrated as Victoria Day. Strangely, it is celebrated only in Canada and Scotland, and to many it means summer is coming soon (not a small thing in Canada and Scotland!). But why do we celebrate the British queen on May 18 when she was born on May 24?
The British monarch was born on May 24, 1819, and she reigned for over 63 years. When Queen Victoria died in 1901, Canada’s parliament officially named the holiday Victoria Day. The Canadian government decided her birthday would be celebrated on a Monday, It would be observed on May 24th if that worked out, otherwise, it would be held on the Monday immediately before it.
