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A portrait in Ottawa City Hall of Queen Victoria, first sovereign of a confederated Canada

English: Victoria Day French: Fête de la Reine

May Long Weekend, May Long, May Two-four, May Run

Canadians

Historical, Cultural, Nationalist

Monday on or before May 24

May 18

May 24

Fireworks, parades

Reigning sovereign's birthday

Victoria Day 2005 fireworks display from Ontario Place, Toronto

Victoria Day (in French: Fête de la Reine) is a federal Canadian statutory holiday celebrated on the last Monday before or on May 24, in honour of both Queen Victoria's birthday and the current reigning Canadian sovereign's official birthday, and is also considered an informal mark of the beginning of the summer season. It has been observed since before Canada was formed, originally falling on the sovereign's actual birthday, and continues to be celebrated in various fashions across the country on the fixed date of the first Monday on or before May 24. Royal Salutes, or 21-gun salutes, are fired in each provincial capital and in the national capital at noon on Victoria Day to mark the Sovereign's Birthday. However, since the Quiet Revolution in Quebec, the same day was unofficially known in the province as Fête de Dollard until 2003, when provincial legislation officially named the same date as Victoria Day the National Patriots' Day.