History of Canadian and Provincial Holidays

May is the month when most provinces are starting to experience some warmer weather, and outdoor BBQ’s and gatherings are kicking off for the summer. One of the first big summer events is often Victoria Day, but did you know why we celebrate Victoria Day? Did you know not every province celebrates Victoria Day? Did you know there are a number of provinces that have their own provincial holidays throughout the year?

Holidays Celebrated in Some, Not All, Provinces

Victoria Day

Victoria Day is celebrated throughout Canada (in all provinces except Quebec) on the Monday closest to May 24th. May 24th was the birthday of Queen Victoria who lived from 1819-1901. Throughout the final years of her reign, she received popularity throughout Canada which prompted the Canadian parliament to declare her birthday a national holiday after her death. Until 1952, Victoria Day was celebrated on her exact birthday, May 24th. After 1952, it stopped being celebrated on the actual date and is now celebrated on the Monday closest to May 24th, making it a three day weekend. As the years have passed, many Canadians have lost sight on why this national holiday exists and more often call it “May long weekend” or “May long.” It is more commonly seen as an excuse to kick off the nicer weather, enjoy camping or other time with family and friends, and throw a party. It is one of only 2 holidays in Canada where employers are legally required to give their employees the day off, the other being Canada Day.

National Patriot’s Day

National Patriot’s Day is a statutory holiday in Quebec and is to honour the rebellion against the British colonial power in 1837. It is the Monday before May 25th and therefore coincides with Victoria Day (celebrated in the rest of Canada) every year. With the unpopularity of the British monarchy in Quebec, Victoria Day was never celebrated in the province. Before National Patriot’s Day began being celebrated in May, Fête de Dollard was celebrated on Victoria Day instead. National Patriot’s Day started being celebrated in 1937 when a centennial celebration was organized to honour “the struggle of the patriots for the national recognition of our people, for its political liberty and to obtain a democratic system of government.” In 1982, the Quebec government recognized the significance of the events that took place in 1837 for the freedom of Quebec residents and proclaimed a decree that this would be celebrated on the Sunday closest to November 23rd. In 2002, the Quebec government moved for it to be a statutory provincial holiday to honour the memory of the patriots, and it was moved to the Monday before May 25th. This holiday has been celebrated in Quebec since. Some celebrations and activities found around the province on this day include marches, concerts, public speeches and award ceremonies. Some residents of Quebec host special dinners or parties on this day. Typically, the celebrations in Quebec are more historic and commemorative than the celebrations of Victoria Day throughout the rest of Canada.

National Indigenous People’s Day

National Indigenous People’s Day is celebrated on June 21 and is an opportunity for everyone in Canada to recognize and celebrate the heritage, culture and contributions of First Nations, the Inuit and Metis peoples of Canada. The Canadian Constitution recognizes these three groups as indigenous peoples. While these groups of people share similarities, they each have a distinct language, culture, heritage and spiritual beliefs. The date of June 21 was chosen as it is the summer solstice, which was a day where many indigenous peoples were already celebrating their culture, heritage and traditions for many generations. This day began being celebrated as National Aboriginal Day in 1996, but in 2017, the Prime Minister issued a statement announcing it was being renamed to National Indigenous Day. This is a recognized paid holiday in both the Northwest Territories and the Yukon but not in other places in Canada.

Orangemen’s Day

Orangemen’s Day is a public provincial holiday in Newfoundland and Labrador which is a day off work and school for the residents of this province. It is celebrated on the Monday closest to July 12 and commemorates the Battle of Boyne which took place in Ireland in 1960 and was pivotal in the power balance between Protestants and Catholics. Celebrations typically include parades, community meals and dancing. Using the colour orange as a symbol of this day represents the monarchs in the House of Orange for Protestant King William of Orange who was victorious in battle over Catholic King James ll during the Battle of Boyne.

Gold Cup Day

Gold Cup Day is celebrated in PEI in place of the August long weekend and is celebrated on the third Friday in August to celebrate the joy of summer season. Businesses on PEI are often closed on this day, although government offices remain open. The Gold Cup and Saucer parade happens on this day and is famous for being the largest parade in the maritime provinces. More than 60,000 onlookers line the streets of Charlottetown to see the various floats, baton twirlers, marching bands, vintage cars and children’s performers. This is the main event of the Old Home Week celebration in Charlottetown. During this week, there is an exhibition with rides, livestock shows, a marketplace, agricultural competitions and nightly horse races. The horse races culminate with the Gold Cup and Saucer race which has been one of the most celebrated harness racing events since the 1960s.

Healthcare Aide Day

Healthcare Aide Day is celebrated on October 18 by both Manitoba and British Columbia to recognize the hard work by men and women who provide front line care for the most vulnerable citizens.

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This article has been written by homeschooling staff writers of The Canadian Schoolhouse (TCS). Enjoy more of our content from TCS contributors and staff writers by visiting our Front Door page that has content on our monthly theme and links to all our content sections.