Happy May Two-Four

Yes, I understand how the calendar works. And I can count. That's why I know it's May 21 today. But in Canada, it's May two-four weekend. Meant to celebrate Queen Victoria's Birthday, which is May 24. Canadians though, more than most people, love the long weekend, so the holiday is always on the last Monday before the 25th. It can occur on the actual 24th, which is often surreal, but not really special. It could actually occur on May 18th, and still be called May two-four weekend. This most likely confuses new residents into thinking Canadians can't count.

But there's a good reason to call it May two-four weekend. In Canada, a case of beer is conveniently called a two-four. That's proof that Canadians can indeed count, even if they are calendar-challenged.

It seems like a beer marketers dream? Queen Victoria is born on the cusp of summer. She has a rather stellar reign worth celebrating. And then, in one of the colony's, a place where they are just dying to get rid of winter and celebrate summer, some Upper Canadians decided to celebrate her by, perhaps, raising a beer from their case. An almost perfect set of circumstances come together to make a weekend that is virtually dedicated to drinking beer. A vodka soda on May two-four? Please. Pass the Blue. Pass an Ex.

And so it was. May two-four weekend, one of the only holidays in the world that is dedicated to drinking beer. So cheers Canada -- your beer drinking image is cemented once again. Have a good two-four.