Victoria Day commemorates the birthday of Queen Victoria on May 24, 1819. The people of the British Commonwealth have always celebrated the birthday of the ruling monarch as a patriotic holiday. During the long lifetime of Queen Victoria, her birthday came to have a special meaning. After Queen Victoria’s death, people continued to celebrate her birthday to express their loyalty to the British Empire. In the early 1900’s, the people of Canada celebrated Queen Victoria’s birthday as Empire Day. The name was changed to Commonwealth Day in 1947. Canadians now celebrate Victoria Day and the official birthday of the reigning monarch as a legal holiday on the Monday before May 25.
