VICTORIA DAY VOCABULARY (ESL)

level: Beginner/Intermediate (A2/B1)

Victoria Day is a Canadian public holiday celebrated on the last Monday before May 25th. This exercise covers vocabulary related to the holiday and its historical background.

READY TO PRACTICE? LET’S GO!

Choose the best word(s) from the following list to complete each sentence: long, informally, commemorates, hold, referred to, birthday, province, buildings, penultimate

1. Victoria Day is observed in Canada on the (= next to last) Monday in May.✓

2. It celebrates the of the late Queen Victoria of England, the exact date of which is May 24.✓

3. The holiday is ( = unoficially) considered by many to be the start of summer in Canada.✓

4. It is a federal holiday, but it isn't a paid public holiday in every .✓

5. In places where it is a paid holiday, many workers enjoy a ( = three-day) weekend.✓

6. Canada is the only country in the world that Queen Victoria with an official holiday.✓

7. Several Canadian cities ( = organize) parades on this day.✓

8. On this day, the Union Jack (Royal Union Flag) hangs alongside the Canadian flag on all federal across the country.✓

9. The holiday is colloquially ( = called) as "May Two Four" by many Canadians. This is a reference to both the date of Queen Victoria's birthday, and Canadian slang for a case of 24 beers (a "two-four").✓

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Victoria Day Conversation Questions 1. What do you know about Queen Victoria or the Victorian era?
2. Does your country have any public holidays that honor historical figures? Who and why?
3. How do Canadians typically celebrate Victoria Day? Does it sound similar to holidays in your country?
4. Do you think it is important for countries to maintain traditions linked to their history? Why?
5. What is your favorite public holiday in your own country? What do you do on that day?

More holidays exercises Victoria Day vocabulary 1
Canada Day vocabulary 1
National Day for Truth & Reconciliation
Halloween vocabulary 1
Thanksgiving vocabulary 1

Did you know? Victoria Day honors Queen Victoria (1819–1901), who reigned over the British Empire for 63 years. Her birthday was May 24th, and the holiday was first officially observed in Canada in 1845 — one of Canada's oldest statutory holidays.

The holiday is sometimes informally called May Two-Four in Canada — a double reference to May 24th and the "two-four," Canadian slang for a case of 24 beers, reflecting the holiday's association with the start of summer and outdoor celebrations.