How Canada celebrates Victoria Day
On May 22, Canadians will celebrate the warmest of holidays.
Victoria Day is a particularly beloved holiday in Canada, celebrated only there. It became an official holiday back in 1890. Since then, Canada has been celebrating Queen Victoria's birthday. It is Canada's oldest public holiday, unrelated to religion. It is celebrated on the Monday before May 25. This year it fell on the 22nd. Everywhere in Canada, except Atlantic Provinces, Victoria Day is an official holiday. It is not celebrated in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Labrador.
For most Canadians, the day has lost its connection to the monarchy. Sure, there are parades and fireworks all over the country, but locals look forward to other activities. These are the dates of the long weekend, which means the beginning of summer. Canadians spend this time visiting friends and family, taking trips to the outdoors and tourist spots, and also enjoying visiting local pubs. Especially hard-core beer drinkers drink 24 pints of beer over the long holiday, as is tradition.
Victoria Day marks the beginning of the warm season and summer across Canada. Residents change into light clothing and head out to the cottages for the first time of the year. Cottage communities become very busy. Many go on a pilgrimage to the local natural beauty — the lakes of the town of Banff or Niagara Falls. By the way, most of the tourist spots are open to the public at this time.
Winter resorts on this day end the long ski season — there you can catch large-scale parties with lavish refreshments and tanks of alcohol. That's where Canadian clubbing enthusiasts choose to go. These events typically feature popular DJs and attendees dancing till they drop.
Lately, Canadians have been enjoying spending Victoria Day at out-of-town spas. There are massages, baths, beauty treatments, campfires and fireside gatherings, and lots of fire-cooked food. Mostly at this time they treat themselves to grilled vegetables and meat, and a traditional drink — beer. During this break Canadians have time to rest well and go to work with renewed vigor. And then the dacha season begins, where many Canadians spend every weekend.
Victoria Day is a spectacular holiday that is enjoyed not only by residents of the country, but also by tourists. Almost all cities have parades and fireworks, and cafes and restaurants open their summer porches. If you want to have an eventful day, find out in advance about the events that are planned in your city. You can read about them in the local media and social networks of the city administration.
