Among the insignia granted to certain members of orders of knighthood in Great Britain are collars, which are worn only on designated Collar Days. Collars are special large and elaborate metal chains worn over the shoulders, hanging equally in front and back, tied with a white satin bows 1 ½ inches wide at the shoulders, with a distinctive pendant attached to the front. They are worn by members of the Order of the Garter, the Order of the Thistle, and Knights Grand Cross of others (the only active ones being the orders of the Bath, Saint Michael and Saint George, the British Empire, and the Royal Victorian Order). Articles on the first two orders show illustrations. The British honours system is a means of rewarding individuals personal bravery, achievement or service to the United Kingdom. ... A garter is one of the Orders most recognisable insignia. ... James VII ordained the modern Order. ... The Grand Cross of the Iron Cross was an award intended for senior Generals of the German Army and dated back to 1870. ... Military Badge of the Order of the Bath Listen to this article · (info) This audio file was created from the revision dated 2005-04-11, and does not reflect subsequent edits to the article. ... On the Orders insignia, St Michael is often depicted subduing Satan. ... Commanders Badge of the Order of the British Empire The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V. The Order includes five classes in civil and military divisions, in decreasing order of seniority: Knight or Dame Grand... Victoria founded the Royal Victorian Order. ...

The collar can be worn on thirty-four specific days throughout the year. These include civil events (New Year’s Day, 1 January; Restoration of the Royal Family, 29 May), special days pertaining to the sovereign (currently Queen’s Accession, 6 February; Queen’s Birthday, 21 April; and Queen’s Coronation, 2 June), and religious observances (seventeen saints’ days; Epiphany, 6 January; Candlemas, 2 February; Annunciation Day, 25 March; Christmas, 25 December; plus moveable days related to Easter [three], Ascension Day, Whit Sunday [three], and Trinity Sunday). Collars are also worn when the queen opens or prorogues Parliament and a few other observances, including religious services of the various orders and introducing a peer to the House of Lords. January 1 is the first day of the calendar year in both the Julian and Gregorian calendars. ... The English Restoration or simply Restoration was an episode in the history of Great Britain beginning in 1660 when the monarchy was restored under King Charles II after the English Civil War. ... May 29 is the 149th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (150th in leap years). ... February 6 is the 37th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... April 21 is the 111th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (112th in leap years). ... 2 June is the 153rd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (154th in leap years), with 212 days remaining. ... Epiphany (Greek: επιφάνεια, the appearance; miraculous phenomenon) is a Christian feast intended to celebrate the shining forth or revelation of God to mankind in human form, in the person of Jesus. ... January 6 is the 6th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Candlemas is the last festival in the Christian year that is dated by reference to Christmas; subsequent holidays are calculated with reference to Easter, so Candlemas marks the end of the Christmas and Epiphany season. ... February 2 is the 33rd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... The Annunciation, by El Greco (1575) March 25, which is nine months before the feast of the Nativity of Jesus, or Christmas, is the traditional date for the commemoration of the Annunciation of the Theotokos and Mary, the mother of Jesus. ... March 25 is the 84th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (85th in leap years). ... Christmas is a holiday observed in much of the world on 25 December (or on 7 January in most Eastern Orthodox Churches). ... December 25 is the 359th day of the year (360th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 6 days remaining. ... Easter is the most important religious holiday of the Christian liturgical year, observed in March, April, or May to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus, which Christians believe occurred after his death by crucifixion in AD 30-33 (see Good Friday). ... For other meanings see Ascension (disambiguation) The Ascension is one of the great feasts in the Christian liturgical calendar, and commemorates the bodily Ascension of Jesus into Heaven forty days after his resurrection from the dead. ... The name of the Jewish holiday Shavuot is commonly translated as Pentecost. Pentecost is the Christian festival that commemorates the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles, fifty days after the Resurrection of Jesus at Easter, and ten days after the Ascension. ... Trinity Sunday is the first Sunday after Pentecost in the Western Christian liturgical calendar. ... A prorogation is the period between two sessions of a legislative body. ... The Peerage is a system of titles of nobility which exists in the United Kingdom and is one part of the British honours system. ... This article is about the British House of Lords. ...

Collars are not normally worn after sunset nor while mounted in parades such as the Trooping of the Color. Even if a bearer is entitled to more than one collar, only one may be worn at a time. The riband with badge can not be worn with the collar, but that of another order is allowed. The Trooping the Colour is a British military pageant. ...

Reference: The Queen's Orders of Chivalry, Brigadier Sir Ivan De la Bere, Spring Books,London, 1964

External Link: http://www.cam.ac.uk/societies/cuhags/info/days.htm