Royal Fanfare — Birthdays
Royal birthdays were often commemorated by the creation of a musical or theatrical production. Other forms of public celebration included pageants and jousting tournaments, popular from the Middle Ages right up to the end of the 17th century.
Name day cards and books with personal inscriptions were popular birthday tokens exchanged privately by royal family members.
In Canada, Queen Victoria’s birthday was celebrated with speeches by city dignitaries and lots of flag waving. The City of Toronto marked the day by distributing free loaves of bread to the crowds.