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Saturday 19 May 2012

An Excellent Canadian Holiday, Eh?

The 24th of May weekend has officially begun!  For those of you who are not Canadian, let me explain why this is such an important holiday to us.

For loyalists, it is a grand celebration of the birth of Queen Victoria on May 24, 1819. ~


If you are in the Province of Quebec, you can ignore the queen and celebrate Patriot's Day.

It doesn't really matter, because the real importance of this date is that we have collectively decided that this weekend is the beginning of the Canadian summer.  We are not discouraged by the fact that 90% of the time it is brutally cold and rainy and may even snow on this weekend.  This is the weekend we have determined we are to open our cottages, go camping, plant our veggie gardens and wear shorts.

Any Canadian under the age of thirty will refer to this weekend as the May Two Four weekend.  That's slang for 24 beer, and on this weekend you are to consume large quantities of beer while gathered around an enormous fire.  The fire, of course, is to ward off the frostbite.

While the Americans buy their beer in six packs ~

And the British buy it in pints ~




We buy ours in cases of 24.  I guess we're just better beer drinkers!  Americans know this and when they send their ambassador to meet our Prime Minister , he brings a case of Two Four. ~


He brought two twelves AND the wrong kind.  You can tell by the look on our Prime Minister's face but he's too polite to say so.  Once they're halfway through this case, it will be more about not falling in the bonfire than taste anyway.

By Monday night we will drag our frozen and hung over bodies to the back yard or public parks and let off lots of these. ~


Next to the male pyromaniac gene is the male love of explosions gene!  

Canadian dogs refer to this as the "Night Of Horrors" and cower under beds until it is over! ~


So, the highlights of this cultural treatise are - bring 24 beer, firewood, fireworks and shorts when travelling in Canada on the 24th of May.   

Happy Victoria Day everyone!



29 comments:

  1. I'm still laughing at that comment about not falling in the fire. You know, been there -- done that -- time of life. Hope the weather turns out warm enough for those shorts!

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    1. Isn't it nice to be past some things? It looks like this weekend is going to be in the final 5%. Warm weather!

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  2. LOL-Sounds like every other day here in Wisconsin! I'll have you know that Wisconsin is known not only as the dairy state but it has the highest rate of alcoholics per capita. Especially South of us in the Milwaukee area. uh-huh...If you ever get tired of Canada you could move to this area and still feel like you are home! xo Diana

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    1. Wow, folks from Wisconsin rock! But, we have a lot of lumber that we're not allowed to sell you guys anymore, so we have bigger bonfires!

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  3. Hahaha! Love this Maureen! Too funny! And even funnier, Canadians are not allowed to bring alcohol into Ontario Provincial Parks for the May 24 weekend anymore....do people still camp on those weekends? Queen Victoria would roll over in her grave if she realized what her birthday weekend had become! xo wendy

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    1. Aw, too bad about no alcohol in the parks. It's kind of hard to smuggle a Two Four in past the critter police. (That's slang for Park Wardens). Only young people camp on the first long weekend.

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  4. Well I did not know any of this! I'm much better informed now! Enjoy your holiday!

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    1. Whew, I've accomplished my cultural mission! Have a great weekend, too.

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  5. Maureen, this is the perfect description of May 24. Well done!

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    1. Thanks, Terry. I'm happy to show our country in the best possible light!

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  6. Beer, bonfires, being outdoors - what better way to celebrate the beginning of summer!

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    1. And, wonder of wonders, it's warm this year! Have a great weekend!

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  7. Hi, Maureen! So interesting ~ you have educated me! I've just found your lovely blog, and I'm a new follower...so nice to "meet" you!
    Best,
    Anne

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    1. Welcome to It's All Connected! I'm so glad you found me so I could find your wonderful blog!

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  8. Happy Victoria day! I hope your long weekend is wonderful and that you enjoy a beer or two...maybe not 24!

    Best wishes,
    Natasha in Oz

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    1. Thanks, Natasha! I don't think I'll be drinking 24, falling in the fire or camping this weekend. I am wearing shorts, though!

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  9. An excellent reason to open the cottages! :)

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    1. We do love our cottages, though we are suspicious that it really just gives us another house to upkeep.

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  10. That's hilarious but... right on the mark! Once our aging bodies can no longer take the campfire rituals it often becomes pool opening weekend - beer is mandatory! Cheers!

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    1. The pools certainly must be opened, just in case someone catches fire and needs to jump in!

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  11. Fun post! Cheers! Hugs and wishes for a beautiful week! xo

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  12. Have a great weekend, we have to wait until the 4th of July for beer and fireworks!

    Carol

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    1. Oh, we get to do this all over again on the 1st of July for Canada Day! Have a great week! ~ Maureen

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  13. Have a great weekend and of course, I didn't know this. Noted. :)

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    1. I'll make sure you are up on all our customs before you come for your visit! Remind me to explain what the Beaver Tails are that we eat. lol

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  14. Thanks for all the info. We have a new (well, its old, but new to us) cottage on Lake Memphremagog. We are on the Vermont side, a few feet from the border. Nice to know what to expect from our neighbors- I didn't even know the 24th weekend was a holiday!

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    1. What a beautiful area for your cottage! Now, you know what all that noise is across the border on the 24th of May. Our next noisy day is July 1 for Canada Day.

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  15. Get me on the calendar for the PM and I'll bring him the right kind of beer!

    ~Bliss~

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