6 hours ago
- Politics
- Edinburgh Reporter
Call for a special day for Wallace
A new campaign has been launched to create a national day to celebrate Sir William Wallace.
An online petition calls for The Scottish Government to officially recognise August 23 each year as 'Wallace Day'.
The date marks the anniversary of the freedom fighter's gruesome death in London in 1305.
The campaign is being led by the Society of William Wallace, which commemorates 'Scotland's national hero'.
It calls for 'a national day of remembrance and celebration in honour of Sir William Wallace, one of Scotland's most iconic figures'.
The petition, on the platform, has already attracted hundreds of signatures.
It states: 'His courage, sacrifice, and unyielding commitment to Scottish sovereignty have echoed through centuries and remain an enduring symbol of national pride and resilience.
'While monuments, books and films have kept his memory alive, there is no formal day set aside to honour the man who became a cornerstone of Scotland's national identity.'
David Reid, convener of the Society of William Wallace, said Wallace Day would not have to be an official bank holiday like St Andrew's Day on November 30, but could be similar to Burns Night, held each year on the poet Robert Burns' birthday, January 25.
He added: 'Wallace is pivotal in Scotland's history and many other countries around the world would recognise such a figure.
'We have a national saint and a national bard, who are both celebrated with a special day, but the national hero Wallace is not. I think it sends out the wrong message.'
Campaigners say an annual Wallace Day would 'encourage historical education and civic pride, particularly among young Scots'.
They say it would also provide 'a focal point for cultural events, heritage tourism, and local community gatherings'.
Wallace rose from relative insignificance to become a key figure in Scottish history.
He won his most famous victory at the Battle of Stirling Bridge in 1297 and was made Guardian of Scotland the following year.
Defeated by an English army led by King Edward I at Falkirk in the summer of 1298, he evaded capture until 1305 when he was betrayed and dragged to London to be tried for treason in Westminster Hall.
Wallace was hanged, drawn and quartered at Smithfield in London on 23 August 1305, in an event believed to have formed the opening spectacle of Bartholomew Fair, the largest medieval market in England.
His head was put on a spike on London Bridge and his body sent in pieces to Newcastle, Edinburgh, Stirling and Perth as a warning to others.
The National Wallace Monument near Stirling, which first opened to the public in 1869, pays tribute to the freedom fighter and is now one of Scotland's most popular landmarks.
Awareness of Scotland's national hero was boosted by Mel Gibson's Oscar-winning 1995 epic Braveheart, which introduced the legendary figure to a global audience of millions.
Wallace Monument Photo by Clément Proust on
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