Queen Victoria Day, Canada
The last two Mondays in May celebrate federal public holidays in Canada and in the United States of America respectively. This past Monday, May 21, Canadians celebrated Victoria Day, not to be confused with Canada Day. On Victoria Day, Canadians proudly celebrate the birthday of Queen Victoria, the date also simultaneously celebrating the current Queen Elizabeth’s birthday.
The celebration of Victoria Day goes back to 1845, even before confederation of Canadian provinces in 1867. Queen Victoria reigned as Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 1837-1901. From 1876, she adopted the additional title of the Empress of India. This 64 year reign is the longest of any female monarch in history, only to be surpassed by that of the current Queen Elizabeth, her great, great, granddaughter.
Victoria Day for Canadians is a unique idiosyncratic tradition as much a part of the national fibre as Canada Day which is celebrated on July 1. Her reign brought Britain through the Industrial Revolution, the expansion of the Empire and a shift in power away from the monarchy. During her reign, Colonial Conferences for the prime ministers of the self-governing colonies were held. For this reason, Canadians celebrate Queen Victoria’s birthday with a public holiday and many national festivities. Queen Victoria is seen as the Mother of Confederation.
Memorial Day, U.S.
On Monday, May 28, the USA celebrates Memorial Day. Originally called Decoration Day, from the early tradition of decorating graves with flowers, wreaths, and flags, Memorial Day is a day for remembrance of those who have died in service to our country. It was first widely observed on May 30, 1868, to commemorate the sacrifices of Civil War soldiers.
This event was inspired by local observances of the day that had taken place in several towns throughout America in the three years after the Civil War. In 1873, New York was the first state to designate Memorial Day as a legal holiday. By the late 1800s, many more cities and communities observed Memorial Day, and several states had declared it a legal holiday. After World War I, it became an occasion for honoring those who died in all of America’s wars and was then more widely established as a national holiday throughout the United States.
Memorial Day is commemorated at Arlington National Cemetery each year with a ceremony in which a small American flag is placed on each grave. Traditionally, the president or vice president lays a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. About 5,000 people attend the ceremony annually. (National Memorial Day – PBS)
