Victoria Day (Canada).

Victoria Day is a Canadian holiday that takes place on the Monday prior to May 25 of every year. It honors the birthday of Queen Victoria, who was born on May 24, 1819, and ruled as queen of England and all its various possessions, including Canada, from 1837 until her death in 1901. She was the longest-reigning monarch in British history. May 24 first became a public holiday in 1845 by declaration of the legislature of the Province of Canada. After the queen's death in 1901, the Canadian parliament gave it the name Victoria Day, to be celebrated on May 24 of every year, unless May 24 fell on a Sunday, in which case the holiday would be observed on May 25. In 1952 the modern custom of celebrating Victoria Day on the Monday preceding May 25 was established by statute and announced annually by proclamation until 1957, when it became a permanent holiday. Victoria Day is most commonly celebrated with parades, marching bands, floats, and speeches by prominent politicians. Due to health concerns surrounding the global COVID-19 outbreak that began in late 2019, the large Island Farms Victoria Day Parade, which takes place in the city of Victoria and had been held without fail for 122 years, was canceled.