Collar days are designated days on which the collar forming part of the insignia of certain members of British orders of knighthood may be worn.
Collars are special large and elaborate ceremonial metal chains worn over the shoulders, hanging equally over the front and back, often tied with a bow at the shoulders, with a distinctive pendant attached to the front.
Collar days in the United Kingdom Collars are worn by Knights and Ladies Companion of the Order of the Garter, Knights and Ladies of the Order of the Thistle, and Knights and Dames Grand Cross of other orders. Of the last mentioned, the only currently active orders are the Order of the Bath, the Order of Saint Michael and Saint George, the Royal Victorian Order and the Order of the British Empire; the Order of Saint Patrick, the Order of the Star of India and the Order of the Indian Empire are now in abeyance. The collar can be worn on specific collar days throughout the year.
Collar days, in accordance with instructions of the Central Chancery of the Orders of Knighthood, are: datedaystatusvariableEaster SundaycurrentvariableEaster MondayabeyancevariableEaster TuesdayabeyancevariableAscension DaycurrentvariableWhit SundaycurrentvariableWhit MondayabeyancevariableWhit TuesdayabeyancevariableTrinity Sundaycurrent1 JanuaryNew Year's Daycurrent6 JanuaryEpiphanycurrent25 JanuaryConversion of St Paulcurrent2 FebruaryPresentation of Christ in the Temple (also called Candlemas)current24 FebruarySt Matthias' Daycurrent1 MarchSt David's Daycurrent17 MarchSt Patrick's Dayabeyance25 MarchLady Day (also called Annunciation Day)current23 AprilSt George's Daycurrent25 AprilSt Mark's Dayabeyance1 MaySt Philip and St James' Dayabeyance6 MayThe King's Coronationcurrent29 MayRestoration of the Royal Familycurrent24 JuneSt John the Baptist's Daycurrent29 JuneSt Peter's Dayabeyance25 JulySt James' Dayabeyance6 AugustTransfiguration Daycurrent24 AugustSt Bartholomew's Dayabeyance8 SeptemberThe King's Accessioncurrent21 SeptemberSt Matthew's Daycurrent29 SeptemberSt Michael and All Angels' Daycurrent18 OctoberSt Luke's Dayabeyance28 OctoberSt Simon and St Jude's Dayabeyance1 NovemberAll Saints' Daycurrent14 NovemberThe King's Birthdaycurrent30 NovemberSt Andrew's Daycurrent21 DecemberSt Thomas' Dayabeyance25 DecemberChristmas Daycurrent26 DecemberSt Stephen's Daycurrent28 DecemberHoly Innocents' Daycurrent
Collars are also worn when the King opens or prorogues Parliament, and for a few other observances, including religious services of the various orders, and by those taking part in the ceremony of introduction of a peer in the House of Lords.
References
External links https://web.archive.org/web/20060925040501/http://www.cam.ac.uk/societies/cuhags/info/days.htm