National Patriots' Day, or Journe nationale des patriotes, is a statutory public holiday in Quebec observed annually on the Monday preceding May 25. This date aligns it with the observance of Victoria Day in the rest of Canada, but it commemorates a distinctly different historical event.
The holiday was officially established by the provincial government in 2002 to honor the memory and struggle of the Patriotes during the Lower Canada Rebellion of 18371838. These rebellions were an armed conflict against the British colonial government, driven by demands for responsible government, democratic reform, and the affirmation of French-Canadian political and cultural rights. The establishment of this day replaced the previous observance of Fte de Dollard, creating a formal commemoration of a key event in the development of Quebec's democratic and national identity.
In practice, the day serves a dual purpose. It is a formal occasion for remembering the principles of liberty and democracy fought for by the Patriotes, often marked by official ceremonies, historical lectures, and the raising of the Patriote flag. Concurrently, as the first major long weekend of the warmer season, it is widely recognized as the unofficial beginning of summer, with many residents using the holiday for travel, outdoor activities, and family gatherings.
