Colloquially known as "MAY TWO-FOUR!", the weekend which culminates May is, for Canadians, one day longer than that of their global friends. We happen to be the only nation that celebrates Queen Victoria's birthday--by using the Monday before the month ends for personal enjoyment. Of a historical, cultural, and nationalistic nature, Victoria Day is undeniably essential. It is difficult to find fault with a statutory holiday.
Why is Queen Victoria still important? There are infinitely a myriad of reasons, but here is the overriding one: she reigned for an unreasonably long time. In the nineteenth century, a period of unsophisticated medicine, living for 81 years is no easy feat. In addition, she ruled from her coronation in 1837 to her death in 1901. Those 64 years make her the longest ruling monarch in the history of the United Kingdom, and thus far, nobody has been able to trump that.
Other than an opportunity to sleep in, enjoy the likely present sunshine, observe fireworks, be startled by their sounds and primarily just have the day off, Victoria Day also gives all sharing the Queen's name a chance to wince or feel wrongly triumphant. As I indulged in the latter choice, I will be looking forward to its 2011 return.
