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Enjoy this curated selection of theme-related dances for celebrations and holidays, or find a dance associated with a special calendar day, or EVEN your own birthday!
Statue of William Wallace in Dryburgh, Scottish Borders, Scotland
Aug 23
William Wallace Day
A Tribute to William Wallace
Other Scottish Country Dances for this Day
Today's Musings, History & Folklore
"🎶 Scots, wha hae wi’ Wallace bled,
Scots, wham Bruce has aften led,
Welcome to your gory bed,
Or to victory!"
~ Scots Wha Hae, Robert Burns, 1793
More than seven centuries after his death, William Wallace remains one of the most recognizable figures in Scottish history. Soldier, rebel, Guardian of Scotland and national hero, Wallace lived during one of Scotland's most turbulent periods. In 1297, he and Andrew Moray led Scottish forces to a decisive victory over a much larger English army at Stirling Bridge. Wallace was subsequently knighted and appointed Guardian of Scotland, and although defeated at Falkirk the following year, continued his resistance to Edward I until his capture in 1305.
August 23 marks the anniversary of Wallace's execution in London in 1305. He did not live to see Scottish independence secured, but the struggle continued under Robert the Bruce, culminating in victory at Bannockburn in 1314 and eventual recognition of Scotland as an independent kingdom. Over the centuries, Wallace became an enduring symbol of Scottish independence, courage and resistance, celebrated in history, poetry, legend, monuments and film.
This Wallace Day, his story is again being told at the National Wallace Monument, high on Abbey Craig above Stirling. On August 23, costumed performances of Scotland's National Hero will recount episodes from Wallace's life and the Wars of Scottish Independence. From the monument, visitors can look across the landscape of his great victory at Stirling Bridge, while inside is the famous two-handed Wallace Sword traditionally associated with him.
This Sicilian circle tribute dance by Campbell Hunter, is a progressive 32 bar jig in which pairs of couples dance together before moving around the circle to meet a new couple, with turns, dos-à-dos, arches and more! 🕺 💃 💙 🤍 ❤️ 🏴 ⚔️
A Tribute to William Wallace
William Wallace, born around 1270, was a Scottish knight who became one of Scotland’s most revered national heroes during the Wars of Scottish Independence. Little is known about his early life, but he first rose to prominence in 1297 when he led a successful revolt against English rule. Wallace’s most famous victory was the Battle of Stirling Bridge, where, despite being outnumbered, he and his forces used the terrain to their advantage and crushed the English army. Following this victory, Wallace was declared Guardian of Scotland. His leadership was marked by fierce loyalty to Scottish independence, but his campaign faced setbacks, culminating in his defeat at the Battle of Falkirk in 1298.
After Falkirk, Wallace went into hiding but continued to inspire resistance against the English. In 1305, he was betrayed, captured, and handed over to King Edward I of England. Wallace’s trial was swift and unjust, culminating in his brutal execution in London, where he was hanged, drawn, and quartered. His death was intended to demoralize the Scottish resistance, but it had the opposite effect. Wallace became a martyr and symbol of defiance. His famous declaration, “I tell you the truth—freedom is what is best. Sons, never live life like slaves,” encapsulated his legacy as a champion of liberty.
Wallace’s legacy remains deeply embedded in Scottish identity.
His courage and unwavering commitment to Scottish independence paved the way for future leaders like Robert the Bruce, who eventually secured Scotland’s freedom in 1314 at the Battle of Bannockburn. Over the centuries, Wallace has been celebrated in ballads, literature, and film, with his legend further immortalized by the towering National Wallace Monument in Stirling. He is remembered as a symbol of resistance against oppression, with his life story standing as a testament to the enduring power of the fight for freedom.
Note: No contemporary portrait of William Wallace is known to survive, so the familiar face of Scotland's national hero is itself part of the Wallace legend. Artists working centuries after his death created imagined likenesses, including the 18th-century engraving by Alexander Bannerman, now in the National Galleries of Scotland here.
For more on Wallace's life and legacy, click the illustration from H E Marshall's 'Scotland's Story', published in 1906. The scene shows a woman informing Wallace that the Scottish nobles have been massacred in a trap set at the Barns of Ayr. The original caption is,"Hold you, hold you, Brave Wallace! the English have hanged all your best men like dogs."
Click the dance cribs or description below to link to a printable version of the dance!
