YesCymru backs petition to make St David's Day a bank holiday
YesCymru backing St David's Day petition
YesCymru has backed a petition to make St David's Day a bank holiday.
The grassroots pro-independence group a has thrown its weight behind a campaign to pressure the UK Government into devolving the powers to create bank holidays for Wales to the Welsh Government.
Wales' bank holidays are currently controlled from Westminster and not the Senedd. This is despite Scotland and Northern Ireland already having the power to designate respective patron saint Bank Holidays.
In the petition, by Elfed Wyn ap Elwyn to the UK Government and Parliament, which has had over 3,500 signatures so far, it is argued that it is "time to make this special day a bank holiday in Wales".
If the petition receives 10,000 signatures the UK Government will respond to it, and if it receives 100,000 signatures it will be considered for debate in the UK Parliament. The deadline for the petition is 14 April 2022.
In a message to members, YesCymru said: "We've shared some links to the campaign to make St David's Day a bank holiday on social media alongside our graphics.
"We know that not everyone spends their whole life on Twitter or Facebook so we wanted to take a few moments to draw your attention to the campaign here. If you've got time could you help Elfed reach 10,000 signatures and see if we can make parliament respond".
'Democratic vote'
Back in 2000, the then National Assembly for Wales voted unanimously in favour of a St David's Day bank holiday. However the democratic vote in the Welsh legislature was ignored by Westminster.
In 2014 it was reported that First Minister Carwyn Jones had written to the Secretary of State for Wales to seek the power to make Wales' national day a bank holiday. But the move was rebuffed by the UK Government's Wales Office.
The petition states: "Dydd Gwyl Dewi / St David's Day has always been a significant day in Cymru / Wales, and has been used to celebrate everything Welsh.
"It's time to make this special day a bank holiday in Wales, just like Scotland has St Andrew's Day, and Ireland has St Patrick's Day as bank holidays."
Barry Pandy
So why is this power devolved for Scotland and Northern Ireland but not Wales?
Reply to Barry Pandy
Becauase those in power in Westminster have a special place in the hearts for us …..!
Welsh_Siôn
Reply to Dafydd
Those in power in Westminster have hearts?
News to me … 😉
They absolutely under no circumstances can bare to give us another shred of power – we are absolutely forbidden to recognise our national heritage – we must not exist!
YOU WILL BE ASSIMILATED! That s the message im getting anyway.
I have signed it, however I feel it is futile as they will just reject it. Bank Holidays may very well be a reserved matter, but Public Holidays do not appear to be, and legally there is a difference.
Gaynor Jones
Personally i believe that we can make more of Dydd Gwyl Dewi without it becoming a holiday. Because it is only schools that celebrate it. Close the schools and we raise another generation oblivious to Welsh history/ culture
Reply to Gaynor Jones
Welsh history and Culture should be in the national curriculum anyway. Schools can still celebrate festivities in the run up to St Davids Day, the same way Nativity plays occur in the run up to Christmas rather than on Christmas Day.
Grayham Jones
We in wales have got to celebrate welsh history not English bonfires 🔥 and America Halloween
Paul Culloty
Reply to Grayham Jones
You do realise Halloween is an Irish/Celtic festival originally, as Samhain? Unclear whether it was celebrated in Wales, but it certainly was in Scotland.
Reply to Paul Culloty
Wrong call. I think he means Guy Fawkes.
In Wales it was called Nos Galan Gaeaf, there is a bit about it on Wikipedia: Calan Gaeaf – Wikipedia
But we also need to promote Welsh history and culture globally, the same way Ireland do with St Patricks Day.
There has been calls to make St' David Day a national holiday in Wales for decades and both Labour & Conservatives have continually denied only Wales this right. Why, I ask? It's very sinister. As mentioned by others. Both Scotland & Northern Ireland have the power and subsequently created public holidays where Wales cannot. How can this be justified today by our so-called pubic servants? We need to knock down our MPs doors and tell them to do their bloody jobs properly by representing our interests rather than their own for once. Listen to us. Fight for our rights. We… Read more »
Keith Gogarth
Reply to Y Cymro
Because they want to make Wales another Cornwall