Bonne fête de Victoria
Today is a holiday in Canada — Fête de la Reine.
De nos jours, as Canadians head to their vacation cottages, picnic on the beach, or fire up the backyard barbecues, the holiday is more about the start of summer than it is about the Queen’s birthday. But it was originally created to celebrate the May 24 birthday of Britain’s Queen Victoria.
La reine Victoria, who governed from 1837 jusqu'à sa mort en 1901, was the ruling monarch at the time of La Confédération canadienne — when Canada became a nation in 1867. Depuis 1952, Canada has celebrated Victoria’s birthday on the Monday before May 25, et dans 1957, Victoria Day became the official day to celebrate the sovereign’s birthday in Canada.
As a Commonwealth country, Canada still has a queen, actuellement La reine Elizabeth II. Although Elizabeth’s actual birthday is April 21, it’s honored on Victoria Day.
Donc, aller à la plage aujourd'hui, and wherever you are, offer a birthday toast to the queen!
Photo © Carolyn B. Vrai démon
