Collar day

Collar days are designated days on which the collar forming part of the insignia of certain members of British orders of knighthood may be worn.

Collars are special large and elaborate ceremonial metal chains worn over the shoulders, hanging equally over the front and back, often tied with a bow at the shoulders, with a distinctive pendant attached to the front.

Collar days in the United Kingdom

Collars are worn by Knights and Ladies Companion of the Order of the Garter, Knights and Ladies of the Order of the Thistle, and Knights and Dames Grand Cross of other orders. Of the last mentioned, the only currently active orders are the Order of the Bath, the Order of Saint Michael and Saint George, the Royal Victorian Order and the Order of the British Empire; the Order of Saint Patrick, the Order of the Star of India and the Order of the Indian Empire are now in abeyance. The collar can be worn on specific collar days throughout the year.

Collar days, in accordance with instructions of the Central Chancery of the Orders of Knighthood, are:[1][2][3]

date day status
variable Easter Sunday current[1]
variable Easter Monday abeyance[1][2]
variable Easter Tuesday abeyance[1][2]
variable Ascension Day current[1]
variable Whit Sunday current[1]
variable Whit Monday abeyance[1][2]
variable Whit Tuesday abeyance[1][2]
variable Trinity Sunday current[1]
1 January New Year's Day current[1]
6 January Epiphany current[1]
25 January Conversion of St Paul current[1]
2 February Presentation of Christ in the Temple (also called Candlemas) current[1]
24 February St Matthias' Day current[1]
1 March St David's Day current[1]
17 March St Patrick's Day abeyance[1][2]
25 March Lady Day (also called Annunciation Day) current[1]
23 April St George's Day current[1]
25 April St Mark's Day abeyance[1][2]
1 May St Philip and St James' Day abeyance[1][2]
6 May The King's Coronation current[1]
29 May Restoration of the Royal Family current[1]
24 June St John the Baptist's Day current[1]
29 June St Peter's Day abeyance[1][2]
25 July St James' Day abeyance[1][2]
6 August Transfiguration Day current[1]
24 August St Bartholomew's Day abeyance[1][2]
8 September The King's Accession current[1]
21 September St Matthew's Day current[1]
29 September St Michael and All Angels' Day current[1]
18 October St Luke's Day abeyance[1][2]
28 October St Simon and St Jude's Day abeyance[1][2]
1 November All Saints' Day current[1]
14 November The King's Birthday current[1]
30 November St Andrew's Day current[1]
21 December St Thomas' Day abeyance[1][2]
25 December Christmas Day current[1]
26 December St Stephen's Day current[1]
28 December Holy Innocents' Day current[1]

Collars are also worn when the King opens or prorogues Parliament, and for a few other observances, including religious services of the various orders, and by those taking part in the ceremony of introduction of a peer in the House of Lords.[1][2][4]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an "Chapter 8: Orders and Decorations, Medals and Medal Ribbons" (PDF). Naval Service Uniform Regulations. Royal Navy. May 2009. p. 8-3. BRD81. Retrieved 11 June 2010.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Lord Chamberlain's Office (May 2009). Dress and Insignia Worn at His Majesty's Court, Issued with the Authority of the Lord Chamberlain. BiblioLife LLC. p. 135. ISBN 9781110350919. Retrieved 12 June 2010 – via Google Books.
  3. ^ "No. 18798". The London Gazette. 26 April 1831. p. 793.
  4. ^ "Feast, Collar and Red Letter Days". Cambridge University Heraldic and Genealogical Society. 2007. Archived from the original on 25 September 2006. Retrieved 12 June 2010.
  • De la Bere, Ivan (1964). The Queen's Orders of Chivalry. London: Spring Books.