![]() But of course the real highlight of the day for the children was that they were let of school early in order to take part in the thousands of marches, maypole dances, concerts and parties that celebrated the event. They would hear inspirational speeches and listen to tales of ‘daring do’ from across the Empire, stories that included such heroes as Clive of India, Wolfe of Québec and ‘Chinese Gordon’ of Khartoum. It is really a coloured picture from a history-book, telling of things that happened, long before you were born”’.Įach Empire Day, millions of school children from all walks of life across the length and breadth of the British Empire would typically salute the union flag and sing patriotic songs like Jerusalem and God Save the Queen. One New Zealand school journal from 1910 records: “This is the ‘Union Jack’ and now that Empire Day has come round once more, you will hear its history. Although not officially recognised as an annual event until 1916, many schools across the British Empire were celebrating it before then. ![]() The first ‘Empire Day’ took place on 24th May 1902, the Queen’s birthday. ![]() However it was not until after the death of Queen Victoria, who died on 22 January 1901, that Empire Day was first celebrated. ![]() The image of a motherly Queen Victoria, Empress of India, as its paramount ruler would be shared by an Empire spanning almost a quarter of the entire globe. The very idea of a day that would …“remind children that they formed part of the British Empire, and that they might think with others in lands across the sea, what it meant to be sons and daughters of such a glorious Empire.”, and that “The strength of the Empire depended upon them, and they must never forget it.”, had been considered as early as 1897. ![]()
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