Candidates For A New National Day
Most of the suggested proposals for a British Day are already existing holidays or days of celebration in the UK which either are poorly marked by the government and the people, or are not readily associated with the idea of Britishness at present. They include:
- Union of the Crowns (24 March), to commemorate the kingdoms of England and Scotland sharing one monarch
- 1 May, being both May Day and the date that the Acts of Union 1707 took effect. The existing May Day bank holiday sometimes falls on 1 May.
- VE Day (8 May)
- Oak Apple Day (29 May), the date of the Restoration
- Democracy Day (7 June) to remember the Reform Act 1832 also known as the Great Reform Act.
- D-Day (6 June)
- Battle of Waterloo (18 June), marking a decisive victory over Napoleon
- Battle of Hastings (14 October) Anniversary of the Battle of Hastings
- The Queen's Official Birthday (a Saturday chosen in June).
- The date of the signing of the Magna Carta (15 June) (a legal Charter for the Kingdom of England)
- Wilberforce Day (24 August) to remember the ending of slavery and the part played by William Wilberforce.
- Trafalgar Day (21 October)
- Armistice Day (11 November)
- Remembrance Sunday (Sunday following Armistice Day).
Read more about this topic: British National Day
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