OBON Day is due to be marked in schools across the UK through the singing of a patriotic song after a campaign backed by Westminster instituted the occasion.
Pupils in Scotland are also expected to take part, but what is OBON Day celebrating? Here is everything you need to know about the new, controversial festivity.
What is OBON Day?
“OBON” stands for One Britain One Nation. The OBON website describes its vision as to “create a strong, fair, harmonious and a proud British Nation, celebrating patriotism and respect for all our people”.
A tweet from the UK’s Department of Education (DfE) appeared on Tuesday encouraging schools to celebrate the day “when children can learn about our shared values of tolerance, kindness, pride and respect.”
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The man behind the initiative, retired police inspector Kash Singh, said the concept was “born from my dream as a police officer” after coming to the UK as a six-year-old boy who “couldn’t speak a word of English”.
He set up the campaign in Bradford, West Yorkshire, in 2013 after retiring from the police force in 2012, but his campaign has only recently been backed by the Government.
Will pupils have to sing a patriotic song to celebrate the day?
The OBON website suggests encouraging “every child in your school to clap for a minute to recognise, embrace and pay tribute to all those people who helped during the Covid 19 pandemic crisis” to mark the occasion.
It also reads: “Sing the OBON DAY 2021 anthem written by school children at St John’s CE Primary School, Bradford titled ‘We are Britain and we have one dream to unite all people in one Great Team’.”
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However, the patriotic song, which is circulating online, has encountered sharp criticism.
Downing Street said the DfE had not asked anyone to sing songs.
The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: “The Prime Minister supports schools promoting fundamental British values, including tolerance and respect, and we endorse One Britain One Nation’s aims to help children learn about equality, kindness, pride, but I will point out the department has not asked people to sing songs or promoting any specific materials for One Britain One Nation day.”
What has the response been?
The campaign has found support from politicians and celebrities alike. MP Brandon Lewis, former MPs David Steel and Norman Tebbit, and actor Joanna Lumley all backed the idea.
The Absolutely Fabulous star said the concept behind OBON is “extremely impressive and timely.”
However, many have ridiculed the idea. Among these, Nicola Sturgeon said she first assumed the UK Government’s backing for the idea was a “spoof” when she saw it on social media and branded the initiative as “ludicrous.
Caroline Nokes, one of the Conservative Party’s own MPs, has also derided the initiative retweeting a preview of the OBON song: “I can’t unhear this (however fervently I wish I could).”
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One Twitter user wrote: “Has no remit outside England. Did they discuss this with the Welsh and Scottish governments? Do they think NI is part of Britain? What sort of geographical, constitutional and political m***** are imposing this on English schools?
Another tweeted: “I don’t know where to start with this crap! The fact that you claim it’s about those things and you’re encouraging kids to sing this song?! This is nationalistic crap!”
“How is the government embodying these values? Tolerance: not to foreigners or those fleeing persecution. Kindness: not to hungry children or the groups above. Pride: in what, Covid? Economy? Shafting our industries? Respect: for codes of conduct, for experts, for law? It’s not,” another user commented.
Are Scottish schools taking part?
The campaign also attracted criticism for a lack of awareness around the devolved school systems.
In fact, Scotland has control over its own education, meaning the UK Government or the DfE cannot impose the celebration on Scottish schools.
Moreover, many Scottish pupils will already be on their summer break by the time OBON day is celebrated in the rest of the country.
Downing Street said the celebration date had been chosen by OBON, and not the UK Government.
When is OBON Day?
One Britain One Nation Day is set to take place on Friday, June 25, with celebrations kicking off at 10am.
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