What are you doing for Mother's Day (May 21 in North America)

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

I will wear a white carnation. My mother is gone now for 15 years.

[Duke87 1,070]

Eh? Mother's day was last weekend.

[dazza262 133]

I will wear a white carnation. My mother is gone now for 15 years.

What a nice way to remember your mother.

Here in the UK, Mothers Day is in March.

My brother emigrated to Canada a few years ago, and because he can't buy Mothers Day cards there until May, She effectively now gets two Mothers Days a year.

A bit like The Queen having two birthdays

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

Eh? Mother's day was last weekend.

In Canada, it's tomorrow.

[Duke87 1,070]

Okay, so different countries can't agree on when Mother's Day should be. Great. It's just a stupid Hallmark holiday, anyway. I wouldn't even acknowledge its existence if not for the fact that my mother would be sad if I didn't.

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

Okay, so different countries can't agree on when Mother's Day should be. Great. It's just a stupid Hallmark holiday, anyway. I wouldn't even acknowledge its existence if not for the fact that my mother would be sad if I didn't.

Did I mention that I got it wrong again. You are right, tomorrow is Victoria Day. I get mixed up with all the holidays around this time of the year. The heir to the throne and his consort (comfort?) are coming over here for a promenade. And actually Victoria Day is supposed to be the 24th but they move it around to get a long weekend.

  Edited May 19, 2012 by A Nonny Moose  

[Alejandro24 575]

Eh? Mother's day was last weekend.

In Canada, it's tomorrow.

Tomorrow? Mother's day was in may 10 in Mexico, and may 6 in Spain.

Doesn't matter, a give to my mother a big hug every day.

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

Yes, Alejandro, I know. I was confused by all the hype for Victoria Day (statutory).

[Alejandro24 575]

Yes, Alejandro, I know. I was confused by all the hype for Victoria Day (statutory).

The birthday of the Queen Victoria. And, what's that celebration? What canadians do in that day? (is in W:En, but I want to read it from a person who lives there).

  Edited May 19, 2012 by Alejandro24  

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

Yes, Alejandro, I know. I was confused by all the hype for Victoria Day (statutory).

The birthday of the Queen Victoria. And, what's that celebration? What canadians do in that day? (is in W:En, but I want to read it from a person who lives there).

Well, originally it was an Empire wide celebration of Queen Victoria's birthday which actually is May 24. Over the years, since Victoria was on the throne for over sixty years, it became permanent. Elizabeth II hasn't quite caught up to Victoria yet. I hope she does, because she is the best thing that has happened to the British Commonwealth since her Father, KG VI who was untimely ripped from us by his smoking habit. This collateral branch of the Saxe-Coburg Gotha clan (now renamed Windsor) has been a God send to us, so we celebrate the present Queen's birthday on this day as well. You could think of it as Monarchy Day, except some of the republics in the Commonwealth might be a little offended by that.

Officially in the U.K. the Queen's birthday is June 21st however her actual birthday is in April.

Commonwealth citizens are like Americans in that regard. Any excuse for a Royal party celebrating the continuous monarchy that has lasted over a millennium.

Most of the crowned heads of Europe are genetically close to Queen Victoria. She and Albert had many children. Kaiser Wilhelm IV who has the "enemy" in World War I was called Uncle Willie by the English Royals until he got in over his head. The last Tsar of Russia was married to one of Victoria's daughters.

So we parade, and sing the Royal Anthem, God Save the Queen, and generally have a nice time on the first good holiday of the summer. By the way, God Save the Queen, My Country 'Tis of Thee (US), and a lot of other patriotic songs and anthems are all version of the Prussian National Anthem Heil sei die Gnaden Furstin. Funny how these things spread around. It is a catchy tune.

When I was a kid, we were still part of the Empire and we learned a lot of British patriotic songs including O Canada in its original, unsullied version in French. It has been mussed up by the politicos since. Calixa Lavalée must be spinning in his grave. In Ontario we also sang "The Maple Leaf Forever" which was about the conquest of New France in 1755. This song is not much appreciated by the Quebecois, so it has kind of fallen out of use. Most school kids these days don't even know the tune.

The verse, which I won't reproduce here, tempted though I am, is pretty explicit about the English heritage of Canada at the expense of the French. This is not due to political correctness on my part, but just political politeness. I like it, it is a pretty good song.

And so, that's Victoria Day. The Queen, God bless her!

[dazza262 133]

It's actually Queen Elizibeth II's diamond jubilee (60 years on the throne) this year.

We are marking it with an extended weekend of events celebrations on June 2-5.

Monday 4th June is the Spring Bank Holiday, and Tuesday 5th is The Queen's Diamond Jubilee Bank Holiday.

Four days off work

[Merlin of Flyote 8]

As said in Britain Mothering Sunday is in March, we don't celebrate Victoria Day though. Also not everybody will be off work on the Diamond Jubillee weekend.

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

As said in Britain Mothering Sunday is in March, we don't celebrate Victoria Day though. Also not everybody will be off work on the Diamond Jubillee weekend.

Yes, but you are not an ex-colonial. I think we celebrate getting rid of the Colonial Office more than anything else. Even after the Statute of Westminster in 1867 we were the step child of the Empire until 1918 (Vimy Ridge) and never got our constitutional act together until 1982. Unlike our friends to the south, we didn't get ants in our pants.