The weather is getting warmer, days are getting longer, and people are anxiously awaiting summer. While we have witnessed brief hints of things to come, it has been a chilly spring. However, better times lie ahead, and traditionally, it starts with the May long weekend.
While officially known as Victoria Day, this holiday is widely considered the start of summer. This long weekend originates from a 1845 law celebrating the birth of Queen Victoria on May 24, 1819 and is observed on the last Monday preceding May 25.
It is commonly referred to as the "May Two-Four" weekend, with an obvious nod to the late Queen’s birthday but also to the Canadian slang for a case of beer. It is a time when many people open cottages, get their swimming pools ready for summer, go camping or begin to plant gardens.
