THE celebration of the Corn Riots could become one of Jersey’s two national days – alongside Liberation Day – and “Beautiful Jersey” could be adopted as the Island’s official anthem, if a backbencher’s proposal is approved this week.
Deputy Montfort Tadier’s amendment to International Development Minister Carolyn Labey’s proposition for Liberation Day to officially become Jersey’s national day calls for 28 September to be adopted as “Jersey’s second national day” in celebration of protests that sparked major reform in the 1700s.
Deputy Tadier said the Corn Riots represented “a uniquely Jersey day” and argued that the Island had an “interesting enough” and “sophisticated enough” history and society to merit two national days.
The Corn Riots have been marked with a festival in recent years, also known as La Folle d’Avoût.
First held in 2021, it was later expanded to include more educational and culinary events during the build-up as an annual celebration of Jersey’s history, language and creativity.
Writing in the report accompanying his amendment, Deputy Tadier said the significance of Liberation Day to the Island “is well understood”.
But he noted that 28 September “has also started to capture the imagination of the public for its significance as a contemporary celebration of a very important and unique day in Jersey’s constitutional history”.
“Both days are important for different reasons, and both speak to different parts of modern-day Jersey. Both are very historically significant,” he added.
Deputy Tadier explained that the amendment was not seeking to make 28 September a public or bank holiday, but “simply an additional national day”, with cultural and constitutional relevance, that would “complement” Liberation Day.
Deputy Tadier’s amendment also calls for “Beautiful Jersey” to be adopted as the Island’s official anthem, referencing the results of a consultation where just over 50% of respondents supported the idea.
“I was surprised to see that the minister was not making a recommendation for the Assembly to adopt Beautiful Jersey/Man bieau p’tit Jèrri as Jersey’s anthem,” he continued.
“It seems that this debate would be missing an opportunity if it did not also consider the matter of the anthem and it seems desirable to at least give the Assembly the opportunity to debate this, and perhaps finally put the matter to bed.”
Deputy Tadier argued that Beautiful Jersey was a “highly suitable for a popular anthem for Jersey”.
“It has words in both English and Jèrriais; it has variation between verse and chorus; it can be played classically or more rhythmically; a shortened version (chorus only) can be played as an abridged anthem, and singing is optional,” he added.
“In reality, Beautiful Jersey already is Jersey’s anthem. This amendment seeks to put that question beyond doubt.”
The proposition and amendment are due to be debated at this week’s States sitting.
