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Dear All
May 24th was also celebrated in at least some states of Australia, including New South Wales, where I came from, up until about 1960. Children used to be given a half day holiday from school. It was called Empire Day until about 1954-5 and afterwards British Commonwealth Day.
I vaguely recall being informed by a teacher that the custom began in Canada, during Queen Victoria's reign. Good to see that the tradition persists in Canada. I think that long ago it was judged 'non P.C.' by the globalist Australian establishment (which is rather like the one over here that assumes that the year dot began in May 1997 - I'm not getting political, simply applying OFM's dislike of corruption in high places).
The evening of May 24th was also used as the quivalent of Guy Fawkes night, when numerous bonfires were set alight - after many days spent denuding the surrounding bush of vegetation for the purpose - and large amounts of fireworks were exploded. The former created havoc for airline pilots trying to find Sydney Airport through the smoke and the latter greatly increased the number of children admitted to casualty wards with burns, abrasions, lacerations and other injuries. The fire brigades were also kept busy. (In some states, e.g. Western Australia, November 5th was retained as the date for all this mayhem.)
Unfortunately, the 1/2 holiday, culminating in the incendiary festivities (known as 'cracker night' (long before Robbie Coltrane was ever featured on the box)) far eclipsed the significance of the date with respect to that magnificent little Queen. (I never thought of her once in about 10 years of sending hard-earned parents' dosh up in smoke on the day. I think the practice was eventually curtailed, not only because of the reasons given above but also because items coming on the market from S.E. Asia, plus home-made devices produced by enterprising adolescents, were judegd as best dealt with by Army Engineers, i.e. bomb disposal experts or the equivalent...)
Us yougsters really could have done with someone like Fraser Snr. or Sgt. Frobisher (minus his digestive problems) to help us keep the right balance. If that's not a sound reason for a sequel to DS (apart from the usual box office incentive, which regrettably doesn't seem to exist), I don't know what is.
Regards
Alan O'R
P.S. My own attempt at a sequel has been updated somewhat since I last mentioned it on this group. If anyone would like a copy (preferably as a WORD '97 attachment), please let me know, OL if you prefer.
----- Original Message -----From: LadyAna5@...Sent: Sunday, May 27, 2001 4:00 AMSubject: Re: [DAML] Poll(VD explanation)In a message dated 5/23/01 12:58:50 PM Pacific Daylight Time, mfuphds@...
writes:
In a message dated 5/22/01 7:28:58 PM GMT Daylight Time, LadyAna5@...
writes:
Victoria Day?
Tell me what Victoria Day is and I'll give you an answer.
Ann///
I got this from Canada.com. Hope it helps. Of course, I was refering soley
to the similarity in name.<G> Oooo! Plot Bunny!///
L.A.K.
The Sovereign's birthday has been celebrated in Canada since the reign of
Queen Victoria (1837-1901). May 24, Queen Victoria's birthday, was declared a
holiday by the Legislature of the Province of Canada in 1845. After
Confederation, the Queen's birthday was celebrated every year on May 24
unless that date was a Sunday, in which case a proclamation was issued
providing for the celebration on May 25. An amendment to the Statutes of
Canada in 1952 established the celebration of Victoria Day on the Monday
preceding May 25. From 1953 to 1956, the Queen's birthday was celebrated in
Canada on Victoria Day, by proclamation of the Governor General, with Her
Majesty's approval. In 1957, Victoria Day was permanently appointed as the
Queen's birthday in Canada. In the United Kingdom, the Queen's birthday is
celebrated in June. In 2001 Victoria Day will be celebrated on Monday, May
21st.
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