Easter 1916, the Easter Rising, one of the most important dates in recent Irish history. But just when should this historic event be celebrated in Ireland? This seems to be a bit of a confusing topic, as the fairly secular fight for Irish freedom seems to have been inundated with religious overtones. So much so that it is a mobile party … that a historical event should never be. Or should it? Let’s take a look at the facts, and just the facts, ma’am …
The actual date of the Easter Rising
The initial attack of the Easter Rising by armed Irish rebels from British forces in (mainly) Dublin took place on April 24, 1916 – or Easter Monday. By accident, instead of planning. The original hatched schemes and plans drawn up by the Irish Republican Brotherhood clique within the Irish Volunteers had called for the revolution to start a day earlier, but conflicting orders and counter-orders issued by factions within the rebel leadership meant that the “Maneuvers” “planned for Easter Sunday were called off at the last minute.
A rapidly restructured plan of attack made Easter Monday the day …
… Which could actually have been a stroke of luck, as many British officers were enjoying the races at Fairyhouse (County Meath), leaving only a skeletal command structure in place. Therefore, the unfavorable start of the revolt due to delay could have been an advantage.
The commemoration of the Easter Rising
After 1916 and the War of Independence, an annual commemoration was held on Easter Sunday (mainly in the form of a military parade). The largest celebration was in 1966, to mark the 50th anniversary of the Easter Rising. However, the Irish government suspended the annual parades in the 1970s, mainly due to renewed violence during the ‘Troubles’ in Northern Ireland. Another change of political climate restored the official commemoration, the 90th anniversary in 2006 was celebrated with a parade in Dublin, again on Easter Sunday.
Easter Sunday, March 27, 2016, was also the day “Official Ireland” celebrated the centenary of the 1916 uprising. Almost a month too early. Although this might not have been noticed by many people, as there seemed to be some kind of commemoration every day in March and April 2016.
The wrong day, the wrong date
If your grandmother was born on Christmas Eve, you will always celebrate her birthday on Christmas Eve. Which is somewhat logical: Christmas Eve falls on December 24 with repetitive regularity. Because Christmas is not a mobile party, but a fixed date on the calendar. But if Grandma had been born on April 24, 1916 … surely you would have celebrated with a lot of cake every year on April 24, not Easter Monday. You are not?
This (a bit whimsical) example shows a major problem: Anniversaries are commonly celebrated on the calendar date they occurred. There could even be adjustments to change the calendars, for example, the celebration of the Battle of the Boyne on July 12 (the battle occurred on July 1) and the commemoration of the October Revolution in November.
In Ireland, however, the actual historical date of the Uprising is almost entirely unimportant; what seems to be much more important is its connection to Easter. Adding more confusion by choosing Easter Sunday over the historic Easter Monday doesn’t help at all.
By a conservative estimate, by interviewing a thousand Irish and women on the streets of Dublin, perhaps only a hundred could determine the date of the Easter Rising. Most would simply respond “At Easter!” And many of the 900 who choose the religious holiday would have a difficult time making the right decision between Easter Sunday or Monday when details are asked.
Why on Easter Sunday?
Easter Sunday might actually be an inspired choice, if you think about the economy and transportation issues: most shops are closed on Easter Sunday in Ireland, there are no major footprints in Dublin, and the streets are closed for parades. It is not a problem. And the commemorations don’t clash with the Fairyhouse racing festival (which is still held at Easter).
But why Easter at all?
As mentioned above, (historical) anniversaries are usually celebrated on the day that they occurred so many years ago. So changing the date when a historic event is held each year – celebrations that coincide with the actual anniversary only once on a blue moon – borders on hysterical fun. But entering the stage left Patrick Pearse …
One of the leading lights of the Irish movement for independence, and one of the (almost totally inadequate) military commanders in 1916, Pearse developed his own philosophy regarding armed struggle. Bottom line: to be successful, you didn’t have to win. Instead, it would be enough to give a “blood sacrifice,” to guarantee the independence of future generations. Or at least force future generations to continue the armed struggle. This rather mythological view of revolutionary activity was very popular in the early 20th century.
No more than, perhaps, in Ireland, where Catholicism adopted a similar concept of self-denial and salvation. As exemplified by none other than Jesus Christ, who died on the cross to save humanity. His “blood sacrifice” (although this idea seems quite pagan) led to the salvation of man.
In a swift (and often unconscious) move, the insurrection was connected with the resurrection, the “blood sacrifice” that leads to freedom. Religious imagery and ideas combined with nationalist fervor made Pearse, a brilliant dreamer and orator, but a less than mediocre strategist, Ireland’s saving figure.
This is nowhere exemplified other than in the fairly new Galway Cathedral. Here, in the Chapel of the Resurrection (!), You will find a mosaic by Patrick Pearse. Along with a JFK mosaic …
It’s time for a change?
2016 would have been a good place to start – why not declare a new national holiday on April 24, and henceforth celebrate the Easter Rising on the correct date, without forcing it onto the lunar calendar alongside Easter? Granted, there would be some logistical problems with Dublin closing for a parade… but that hasn’t stopped St. Patrick’s Day from becoming the holiday it is today.
Unfortunately, this was not to be … and therefore Ireland will continue to celebrate the political event as a religious holiday. On a different date each year, and rarely on the correct date.
