— Samuel Pepys’s Diary 1st June 1660
Oak is the national tree of the English people. It represents strength and endurance. Oak is traditionally seen as the protector of our way of life. Royal Oak Day (also known as Oak Apple Day or Restoration Day) marks the restoration of England’s Monarchy. It recalls how Charles II hid in an oak tree to escape following his defeat in the battle of Worcester. Many who fought the king and his troops under the military command of Cromwell were fuelled with outrage at high taxes and the unaccountable lavish lifestyle of their Monarchy. They were united in a desire for freedom and political liberties.
As a political leader, Cromwell placed the interests of his elite minority above the civil liberties of our nation. There were many problems, arguments and new laws based on his strict puritanism. Cromwell considered many things English people enjoyed as sins to be outlawed - eating plum pudding, theatres, singing and dancing were made against the law. Cromwell ruled by force – not by the will of the people.
Cromwell’s dictatorship and tyranny was not acceptable to those who opposed Charles II. Not long after Cromwell’s death, many of those who had previously fought the king under Cromwell united with English royalists to secure the king’s peaceful return. Charles II arrived in London on his 30th Birthday - 29th May 1660.
Charles II’s arrival marked the beginning of Restoration - the return of Monarchy for England. And this time not only Royalists welcomed him. His arrival meant everyone could enjoy singing, dancing, and plum pudding once more. On the day of his arrival there were fireworks, bonfires, dancing in the streets; church bells rang and cannons roared!
Royal Oak Day is a celebration of our freedom, liberty and nationhood - all of which are depicted in the strength and stability of the Oak. Royal Oak Day traditions such as enjoying plum pudding and ale are specific reminders of our redemption from tyranny.
This day was celebrated nationally throughout England for over 200 years. It has been customary to wear a sprig of oak on this day for centuries. There have been numerous naval ships, a train and a London underground station named ‘The Royal Oak’ and it remains a popular name for our pubs and hotels. The image of the Royal Oak continues to be found on our stamps and coins. Yet apart from within a few English village communities, this important day and its traditions have now almost been forgotten. As we mark the 350th Anniversary of this celebration in 2010, let us consider its significance and forever keep the 29th May as a day of thanksgiving for our redemption from tyranny – this Royal Oak Day you are free to wear a sprig of oak and enjoy traditional English plum pudding!
Happy Royal Oak Day, everyone! And, as regards the oak sprig, monarchist Canadians who find such a thing hard to find where they live could always wear a Loyalist Rose, which, I think, communicates identical values.
ReplyDeletePerhaps those who live in Yorkshire in the UK may not agree, for those among you who may know the history of the War of the Roses, the red rose is for Lanchasire and the White Rose is for yorkshire.
ReplyDeleteI would indicate a sprig is a sprig which still resembles the Royal Oak and its celebration
"Free to wear a sprig of oak and enjoy traditional English plum pudding!" Bah. Isn't the greatest, and most unquestionable, of all freedoms the freedom to worship God the way He wants to be worshipped? Yet a mere 2 years after the Restoration, the Act of Uniformity expelled 2,000 clergy from the Church of England and, with later legislation, put them under serious legal discrimination.
ReplyDeleteTweedsmuir quotes Pepys, but I encourage him to read Pepy's diary entries for May and June 1662. If you love freedom, celebrate the events of 1688, not the restoration of the Stuarts.
Who are "our people"?! Oak is a national symbol of England. Charles II was a Scot (a Stuart). You've got it all muddled.
ReplyDeleteCharles II was already king of Scotland - he was simply a fugitive king. In England we had no Monarch - the restoration was essentially an English event. The English Oak is a symbol of our people - the English.
ReplyDeleteGOD save the King!
ReplyDeleteI think you mean Oak Apple Day, there is no such thing as "Royal Oak Day," - it's like when you unilaterally renamed the bar of the Naval and Military Club on a whim in an earlier article, please try and be accurate.
ReplyDelete