Victoria Day is a public holiday in Edinburgh. The day harks back to the heyday of the British Empire, with the cause of celebration a British monarch, Queen Victoria, who died over a hundred years ago.
Queen Victoria was born on 24th May 1819 and was crowned in 1837 at the age of 18 years old. Victoria died on 22 January 1901, after a 63 year reign.
Victoria Day is a "local" holiday as opposed to a national holiday - for example, the City of Glasgow does not mark Victoria Day. Victoria Day is also not a Scottish bank holiday.
In Edinburgh, Council offices and libraries will be open but schools will be shut.
The date of Victoria Day is typically the last Monday before or on Queen Victoria's birthday on 24th May. It is one of two Edinburgh holidays in May, the other being May Day bank holiday.
In Canada, where Victoria Day is a statutory holiday throughout the country, people fondly refer to Victoria Day as "May 2-4." A 2-4 is slang for a pack of 24 beers.