Here’s tae us # 5: not quite over yet…
Well, a day for the History Books this one, and for many, although perhaps not quite a post-Flodden like disaster, it’s a black day nonetheless. Certainly, in my city, there’s a fair amount of soul searching going on. Because it seems that in 2014, the unionist essence that so infused historical pageants of yesteryear, lives on in Scotland…
Notably, even in Angus, where the UK’s most prolific pageant town of Arbroath is situated, the vote was overwhelmingly No to independence. In my home town of Glasgow, we voted a majority Yes, but despite this being the biggest population centre by a mile, it was not enough (not even nearly). But what has struck me in the last few months, has been the real enthusiasm this referendum has generated in Glasgow – definitely something of the old ‘pageant spirit’ has been re-kindled here with saltire-flagged bunting flying (even in the douce south side suburb where I live!) and kilts aplenty on city centre streets! The event brought folk together; even if they were on opposite sides (we do like a good argument!) So, while the Union has prevailed today, change has already happened with a definite upsurge in national consciousness and political energy… what happens next is the big question.
In Scottish pageants, the Wars of Independence loom very large. Whether in the Borders or the Highlands, and in whichever decade of the twentieth-century the pageants took place, these particular and torturous times past were THE corner stones of popular expressions of Scottish identity that were played out in historical pageantry. The ‘Battle’ this time round has certainly been more peaceable and ‘civilised’ but will it go on for as long? The medieval conflict rumbled on for 40 odd years, the more recent challenge if we date it from the failed referendum of 1979 has not lasted quite as long, but with this failed vote, it may yet get there or beyond…
When will the end come? With devo-max? With radical constitutional change and a UK federation of nations? With another referendum in the next decade if the politicians ‘sincere vows’ are not honoured? They are reneging before the day is even done I hear... have we another parcel of rogues to deal with? These are the questions we are already thinking about… and for historians, how will these latest challenges to the Union be remembered?
In Scottish historical pageants, the main narrative thread, common to most, was that Scotland had right on its side, Wallace and Bruce acted honourably for their country in challenging the English monarch. The Union when it came many centuries later was simply a pragmatic decision, but no less worthy. For the hard-headed Scots, Union or no remained a nation because of their longer history of indefatigable defiance. So I’m hoping Glaswegians don’t pack away their saltires and lion rampants too quickly and that we are in this for the longer haul…
The majority of Scottish pageants took place when the notion of the UK as an imperial nation, ruler of the waves etc. was not merely the stuff of the history books. But times have changed and in 2014, many Scots were enthusiastic to explore what a post-imperial, independent Scottish nation would be like. Well, it may take a while longer to find out and perhaps this day will feature as a key scene for pageants of the future…