VICTORIA DAY FIREWORKS 2015

WHAT: VICTORIA DAY FIREWORKS 2015
WHY: PUBLIC HOLIDAY – VICTORIA DAY (IN FRENCH FETE DE LA REINE) - CELEBRATION OF THE BIRTHDAY OF QUEEN VICTORIA IN CANADA
WHEN: MONDAY 18th MAY 2015
WHERE: ACROSS CANADA AND ITS PROVINCES

This coming weekend Canadians celebrate Victoria Day across the country in honour of Queen Victoria’s and the current Queen Elizabeth’s birthdays. The celebration of this day has been observed since 1845 and continues to bring everyone together to celebrate life and mark the start of the Summer time.

Commonly referred to as ‘May two four’ in reference to Queen Victoria’s date of birth 24th May 1819 there are events all over Canada and its provinces. In the City of Victoria (named of course after the Queen) they hold an annual parade. This year marks the 117th of its kind and the event will feature floats and marching bands before the gathered 100,000 spectators.

All across Canada there is a massive Monarchist League who support the constitutional Monarchy (where the queen is acknowledged but not as a ruler – more in a ceremonial fashion) to such a degree that they go the extra mile in celebrating everything ‘British’. Many of the events on offer are British themed with bunting and the Union Flag (Union Jack) and of course High Tea including English Tea, tiny crust-less sandwiches, fruit tarts and fresh cream scones with jam. They even import a rich fruity Port actually bottled for Buckingham Palace (at a mere £30.00 a pop) and dress up in hats, gloves and bow ties for the event. Some go the whole hog and wear period dress from the Victorian period.

Over in New Westminster, British Columbia, they celebrate with a spot of anvil firing. This is an age-old tradition which has been followed for the last 145 years. It began in 1870 to celebrate a 21 gun salute without the guns. Usually, gunpowder is put between two anvils and when it is lit, the combustion lifts the top one high into the air and on dropping down, it makes a noise like a cannon.

In addition to all the British Themed events this day also marks the start of the fruit/vegetable and flower planting season.

Of course, there will be loads of FIREWORKS. Not only the organised events but many have family and friends over to enjoy a BBQ and watch some pyro.

Two of the biggest displays are in Toronto: the first, above the harbour and the second at Ashbridges Bay Park at 10:00pm. The first over the harbour is the work of Rocket Fireworks and the second, Archangel Fireworks Inc. Archangel were worthy winners of the Honda Celebration of Light in 2007 and 2008 make no mistake about it these are some of the best in the firework world.

We would like to wish every Canadian happy Victoria Day and have a great weekend.