Today, the 29th of May, is Oak Apple Day, the day that commemorates the Restoration of the Monarchy when Charles ll returned from exile in France to become king in 1660. The date was declared a holiday by Parliament but was formally abolished in 1859 which seems rather a shame.
Oak apples or sprigs of oak leaves were worn on this day in remembrance of the day after the Battle of Worcester in September 1651, when the future Charles II of England escaped the Roundhead army by hiding in an oak tree near Boscobel House in Shropshire while fleeing to exile in France.
May 29th 1660 was also the thirtieth birthday of the Merrie Monarch so ' A Health Unto His Majesty' who would certainly would have known how to have a good time on his birthday!
10 comments:
Well, I've learnt something today.
i love visits to your wonderful blog, always full of so many interesting things!
Hello Rowan,
BBC Radio 3 had told me about Charles accession but I didn't hear them mention Oak Apple Day, so thanks for that; I never knew!
Boscobel House is very interesting to visit - I loved reading stories about the Civil War and the exile in France and the return of the 'Merrie Monarch' when I was a child, books like 'Gamble for a Throne' and 'Children of the New Forest':) Have you ever been to the Castleton 'garlanding' ceremony held I think, on Oak Apple Day?
So interesting. I did not know about Oak Apple Day. And...I love the music you are playing today!! Have a lovely weekend!
Great post Rowan. I had a feeling that if anyone else was likely to know about Oak Apple Day it would be you. I got some really funny looks for walking around wearing my sprig of oak leaves on Friday!
Wow, is that ever a gorgeous tree in that second photo. Thanks for the history lesson -- so very interesting, as always!
I've always had a crush on
Charles II. There is also a tree near to where we lived in Worcs, that locals claimed he hid in.
It was probably good for tourism through the years to promote the story.
Locally there is an old pub called The Black Boy, which I've been told was his nickname, since he was so swarthy. Whether it has a connection to his escape I don't know.
very interesting~i am writing an essay ont he wars of the three kingdoms at the moment (tearing my hair out over it too!)
Hi, have a look at the Royal Oak Day (or Oak Apple Day) website: www.royaloakday.org.uk
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