Victoria Day

Culture of origin: National · National holiday

Holiday sources: Canada (federal)

Victoria Day honours Queen Victoria, called the "Mother of Confederation". Her birthday, May 24, was made a public holiday in 1845, making it Canada's oldest official holiday, and since 1952 the same day also marks the reigning monarch's official birthday. It falls between May 18 and 24 and is informally the start of summer; in Quebec the day is National Patriots' Day.