T h e M a y T w o F o u r

A Canadian Icon - TheVictoria Day long weekend. The first three day weekend since Easter.

A time of planting, family, celebrations, parties, cottages & backyards.

The weather is by now, temperate and possibly swimming warm - usually chilly swimming warm.

The 24th of May long weekend is the national holiday in celebration of Queen Victoria's Birthday...

History of Victoria Day as described, in part, in Wikipedia:

"The Birthday of the Monarch was a day for celebration in Canada long before Confederation, with the first legislation regarding the event being in 1845 passed by the parliament of the Province of Canada to officially recognize 24 May as the Queen's birthday. It was noted that on that date in 1954, the 35th birthday of Queen Victoria, some 5000 residents of Canada West gathered in front of Government House (near present day King and Simcoe Streets in Toronto) to "give cheers to their queen'" On Victoria Day in 1866, the town of Omemee, also in Canada West, mounted a day-long fete to mark the occasion, including a gun salute at midnight, pre-dawn serenades, picnics, athletic competitions, a display of illuminations, and a torch-light procession.....the reigning Monarch has been in Canada for his or her official birthay twice...20 May, 1939...King Geroge VI...the second time when Queen Elizabeth II was in Canada from 17 to 25 May 2005 to mark the centennial of the entries of Saskatchewan and Alberta into Confederation (above picture, Wikipedia), no events were organized to acknowledge this fact."

The Victoria Day Long Weekend. a.k.a the may 2 4.

A day-long or days-long fete. Salutes at midnight, pre-dawn serenades, picnics, athletic competitions, displays of illumination and torch-lit processions...the origin...

What a celebration; the May Two Four became a weekend fete of fetes...whether rocous & social or quiet & peaceful. An extra day off to spend as each would.

Monday is the Holiday. The stores, banks and businesses are closed. A time away from Commerce. At the end of the weekend there is a day of rest.

The ghosts of May 24 past can call - the memories line up, like Christmas. The weekend captured unto itself, to belong to that date, that weekend in the history of one's time.

Remembering the different types of celebration throughout life...childhood with parents & family up north at the farm, fires & fireworks. Later on in teenage & university years with friends at cottages, classic times, love, laughter, with drinks & adult dreamings.

Now, a time of no work, with our children entertaining their desire for picnics, athletics, displays of illumination and torch-lit processions...

This May 24th Monday dedicated to gardening, playing, badminton, fires, fire crackers, fire works and sparkler torches...

A terrific celebration & another great celebration past...