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CALENDAR CUSTOMS
CALENDAR CUSTOMS
Victoria Day
May 24th
by Gail Hussey-Weir
Created May 2020/Updated May 2025
May 24th
by Gail Hussey-Weir
Created May 2020/Updated May 2025
Victoria Day, May 24th: Commemorates the birthday of Queen Victoria (May 24, 1819). As children in the 1950s, we would chant, "The 24th of May is the Queen's birthday. If we don't get a holiday, we'll all run away." It is generally considered the beginning of the summer season.
In 1955, Victoria Day was a statutory holiday with pay and was observed on Monday, May 23rd. On that particular long weekend, there was the "unseasonable presence of Arctic ice in Conception Bay," disrupting the local ferry service on Friday evening, May 20th, preventing a number of Bell Islanders with motor cars from crossing to the mainland. The favourite May 24th Weekend activity for many years was trout fishing.
Today, Victoria Day is often called "May 24th Weekend," when many Newfoundlanders go camping, and is a federal public holiday celebrated on the last Monday preceding May 24th.
Below is a description of Victoria Day observances from page 6 of the May 1955 edition of the Submarine Miner.
In 1955, Victoria Day was a statutory holiday with pay and was observed on Monday, May 23rd. On that particular long weekend, there was the "unseasonable presence of Arctic ice in Conception Bay," disrupting the local ferry service on Friday evening, May 20th, preventing a number of Bell Islanders with motor cars from crossing to the mainland. The favourite May 24th Weekend activity for many years was trout fishing.
Today, Victoria Day is often called "May 24th Weekend," when many Newfoundlanders go camping, and is a federal public holiday celebrated on the last Monday preceding May 24th.
Below is a description of Victoria Day observances from page 6 of the May 1955 edition of the Submarine Miner.
