29th of May - Royal Oak Day
29th of May is the 149th day of the year
Royal Oak Day:
For several centuries Royal Oak Day was as vigorously celebrated here, or in England at least, as May 1st , indeed the entire month was once filled with a variety of festive events. Royal Oak Day was first marked as a special day in 1661, May 29th that year being the first anniversary of the arrival of Charles II in London to reclaim his throne, and thus the restoration of the monarchy. May 29th by happy coincidence (or careful timing) was also Charles II’s birthday. The ‘oak’ aspect of the day of course came from the well-known story of that monarch being forced to hide in an oak tree to evade pursuers after his defeat at the Battle of Worcester in 1651.
It was common until well into the 19th century for oak sprays to be worn in buttonholes or pinned to clothing on the day, with free-rein given in schools for example to pinch, kick or otherwise abuse anyone without such a mark of loyalty.
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