Happy Victoria Day!

Everyone jokes about the sometimes repressed times known as the Victorian era. But there’s a lot about the woman we owe the first unofficial long weekend of our summer to every year that you may not have realized.

Some fun facts to think about as you enjoy the day:

• Victoria Day honours and commemorates the birth of Queen Victoria who was born on May 24th, 1819 in Britain.  During her reign, she governed the Dominion of Canada until she proclaimed the Confederation of its first 4 provinces in 1867 and selecting Ottawa as the national capital. In Canada.
• Canada has been celebrating her birthday since it was declared a holiday in 1845. It became a legal day off after the monarch’s death in 1901.
• Victoria Day is a Canadian tradition and doesn’t actually exist in most of England.
• Originally the holiday was celebrated annually on May 24th, regardless of what day that was, unless it was a Sunday – and then the observance would be moved to the 25th. In 1952 the government declared Victoria Day would come on the Monday preceding the 25th of May.
• Despite being born in England, Victoria only spoke German up until the age of three.
• Victoria was the first Queen of Canada, sitting on the throne when this country was founded in 1867.
• Victoria was the longest sitting British monarch in history; an amazing 63 years, 216 days. It was only recently that our current Queen broke the record.
• Victoria is named after her, but so is the capital of Saskatchewan – Regina.

Just be sure to enjoy the day. Maybe visit a farm or two…..