Today here in Canada it is Victoria Day. We take this day to
remember one of the greatest women in history. Unfortunately not many of us
know just how grad this woman really was (I mean, come on!She has a whole era
named after her!) or what it was that made her so famous. Fortunately for those
who don’t know about her, this week we are focusing on the real Wonder Women of
our time. First let’s start with Queen Victoria.
Called the Empress of India,
queen Victoria was the daughter of the Duke of kent, who would have taken the throne
had he not died the same year as his father King George. As you may have assumed, with the king and the
duke both gone the throne was up for grabs, and when she was 18, Victoria
decided to finally take her throne.
Though it would be looked down upon today, Victoria married
her first cousin Prince Albert (yes THAT prince Albert). They had nine children
and thirty-four grand children, all together thirty-five of her children and
grand children went on to marry royals in other parts of the world earning this
wonderful mother the name Grandmother of
Europe.
After the Indian
Rebellion of 1857, the British East
India Company, which had ruled much of India, was dissolved, and
Britain's possessions and protectorates on the Indian
subcontinent were formally incorporated into the British Empire. The Queen had a
relatively balanced view of the conflict, and condemned atrocities on both
sides. She wrote of "her feelings of horror and regret at the result of
this bloody civil war" and insisted, urged on by Albert, that an official
proclamation announcing the transfer of power from the company to the state
"should breathe feelings of generosity, benevolence and religious
toleration". At her behest, a reference
threatening the "undermining of native religions and customs" was
replaced by a passage guaranteeing religious freedom.
On 14 December 1878, the anniversary of Albert's death, Victoria's second
daughter Alice,
died of diphtheria. Victoria noted the
coincidence of the dates as "almost incredible and most mysterious"
Victoria Day is marked here by fireworks and I have always
wondered why? Besides the fact that it is her birthday, why have fireworks? Well
the queen herself was fond of large celebrations. In fact to celebrate her
Diamond reign there was a procession in the streets that Mark Twain said “spanned
farther than the eye could see, in either direction!” She even went as far as
putting of celebration of her being the longest reigning queen for a whole year,
so that it would coincide with her diamond anniversary celebration. Making it a
massive shin-dig to say the least!
At the end of her reign, the
Queen's full style and title were fittingly: "Her Majesty Victoria, by the
Grace of God, of the United Kingdom of
Great Britain and Ireland Queen, Defender of the Faith, Empress of India."
She had type 1c-2a normal wavy hair. If you have her hair type try these tips!
-Use a sulfate free shampoo
to get the most body for your wave.
-Use a volumizing brush and
volumizer
-Make sure to use products that encourage
moisture yet don’t weigh down your hair.
If you are in the GTA and are heading down to Ashbridges Bay
(Coxwell and Lakeshore) to see the wonderful fireworks, give us a shout we will
be down there as well! Here is a full schedule
of the fireworks!
Fireworks
displays:
Ashbridges Bay Park (Coxwell Avenue and Lake Shore Boulevard, Toronto)
Monday, May 21 at 9:45 p.m.
Prince Charles and Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, will attend the display!
Ashbridges Bay Park (Coxwell Avenue and Lake Shore Boulevard, Toronto)
Monday, May 21 at 9:45 p.m.
Prince Charles and Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, will attend the display!
