National Patriots' Day (Journe nationale des patriotes) is a statutory holiday observed annually in the Canadian province of Quebec on the Monday preceding May 25. The day commemorates the Patriotes Rebellion of 18371838, a conflict in which French-Canadian Patriotes in Lower Canada rebelled against the British colonial government. It serves as the official Quebecois alternative to Victoria Day, which is celebrated on the same date in the rest of Canada to honor Queen Victoria.
The holiday was officially established in 2002 by the Government of Quebec and first observed in 2003. Its creation replaced a previous holiday, Fte de Dollard, which had been celebrated since the 1920s but faced criticism for its historical interpretations. The shift to National Patriots' Day was intended to highlight a pivotal moment in Quebec's political history: the struggle for democratic government, responsible government, and the affirmation of the French-Canadian national identity. The rebellions, led by figures such as Louis-Joseph Papineau, were a response to the perceived injustices of the ruling British oligarchy and a call for greater political autonomy.
Observing this holiday instead of Victoria Day is a significant cultural and political statement. It underscores Quebec's distinct historical narrative within the Canadian federation, choosing to celebrate a republican and democratic uprising against the British Crown rather than the monarch herself. The day is marked by public ceremonies, historical reenactments, and educational activities that focus on the principles of liberty and democracy fought for by the Patriotes.
