.eJubilee

As my exciting trip to the city of London draws near, I am spending more and more time fantasizing about the Jubilee. I'm looking forward to experiencing all the pomp, all the circumstance, all the excitement, all the history on a scale grander than I'm able to imagine. I'll be so happy to know I've had an opportunity to share in Her Majesty's most glorious moment yet. Then I start to think practically about what it really all represents and means. What is a Jubilee anyway? Is it simply an anniversary like a wedding anniversary that is also marked in years by silver and gold and precious gems like diamonds? Who was the first British Royal to celebrate a Jubilee? How were the traditions established? With the coronation the purpose seems to be the merging in the Sovereign of temporal and divine power. Is there anything as noble in a Jubilee?

According to the "official" British Royal Family site, the Jubilee is actually a based in religious traditions. Egyptians and Hebrews celebrated Jubilees thousand of years ago. In the Book of Leviticus in the Old Testament of the bible it is noted that Jubilee's or yobels, ought to be celebrated every fifty years. The Catholic Church began celebrating Jubilees every 25 years in 1300 AD. Their belief in the Jubilee stems from a passage in the New Testament, Isaiah 61:1-2 to be exact; as he claims that Jesus had come to "preach in the year of the Lord's favor". The most recent Catholic Jubilee held in the year 2000 was a celebration to aid in the relief of third world debt. This is based on Leviticus' belief that the purpose of Jubilees is to gather families together, free slaves, pay debts and land restored to its rightful owners - a very noble purpose indeed.

Though there have been monarchs in England's long history who have reigns achieving the 50 year mark, there are few records of how the events were marked. These include Henry III, Edward III and James VI. The first real records are from George III, 'Farmer George', who marked his 50th year on the throne 25 October 1809. Though the King and his family attended private services at Windsor there was 'grand fete' and firework display at Frogmore, which I'm sure, were enjoyed by a much greater audience. There was a dinner at Mansion House following a service of Thanksgiving at St. Paul's Cathedral to which the Lord Mayor of London led the procession. That is sounding rather festive until you compare it to Queen Victoria's Jubilees. She had both a Golden Jubilee on her 50th year and a Diamond Jubilee on her 60th year on throne. It was her Golden Jubilee that boasted a parade of members of the Commonwealth the world over. What a spectacle that must have been! Mark Twain described the procession as stretching "to the limit of sight in both directs." He couldn't have been exaggerating when you think that terraced benches and ten miles of scaffolding were erected along the parade route to accommodate the viewers.

It's hard to imagine the effect the many representatives of the Empire must have had on the average person who would never have the opportunity to travel to the far corners of the world to experience the cultural diversity they were able to witness during this day. Queen Victoria was quite feeble on her Diamond Jubilee when she celebrated in a more subdued style. Still, she processed for her loyal subjects and wrote in her diary, "No one ever, I believe, has met with such an ovation as was given to me, passing through those six miles of streets… The cheering was quite deafening and every face seemed to be filled with real joy. I was much moved and gratified."

Queen Elizabeth II was equally appreciated during her Silver Jubilee in 1977, the year she celebrated the 25th anniversary of her accession to the throne. Being a traditional woman and one who has devoted herself to the service of her subjects, rather than have them travel to her she traveled to them. She embarked on the most ambitious tour of the Commonwealth ever undertaken by a monarch traveling over 56,000 miles and covering 36 countries in only three months time. This selfless act ensured that all members of the Commonwealth got to participate in the celebrations and many did. In Lancashire Her Majesty's tour stop brought out over a million people in only one day. Amazing!

Another unique aspect of Queen Elizabeth's Silver Jubilee was the chain of light that she herself started by lighting a bonfire beacon at Windsor. The chain of light eventually stretched across the country. The Queen also enjoyed a Service of Thanksgiving at St. Paul's Cathedral. The lunch at Guildhall is the occasion she chose to re-dedicate herself to her subjects. One of my favorite Elizabethisms is when she declares, "My Lord Mayor, when I was twenty-one I pledged my life to the service of our people and I asked for God's help to make good that vow. Although that vow was made in my salad days, when I was green in judgment, I do not regret nor retract one word of it." One especially heartfelt demonstration of the people were the street parties which numbered 4000 on the day that an estimated 500 million viewers the world over tuned in to watch the procession down the Mall.

In this year that marks the Golden Jubilee of her 50-year reign, Queen Elizabeth II will again put her duty to the members of the Commonwealth first by taking an extensive tour. She will satisfy the many people in London and the many more tourists, myself included, with a marvelous program during the weekend that will official mark this milestone. A weekend that has two bank holidays incorporated to ensure a four-day celebration worthy of her years of service. Saturday, June 1, there will be a classical concert beginning at 8:00 p.m. GMT at Buckingham Palace. Sunday will be reserved for Thanksgiving Services at churches throughout the land. Monday morning her husband, Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, will join her for engagements in Windsor and Slough. Monday afternoon she will launch the BBC Music Live to start the festivals of music throughout the UK. That same evening at Buckingham Palace the pop concert will begin at 7:30 p.m. while the beacon lighting and fireworks display are scheduled for 10:40 - 11:00 p.m. in the front of the palace. Tuesday, June 4, is reserved for the more traditional activities. The morning will begin with Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip processing in the Gold Coach by from Buckingham Palace to St. Paul's Cathedral where a Service of Thanksgiving will be celebrated. The couple will lunch at Guildhall as the guests of the Lord Mayor of London at 1:15 p.m. From 1:45 to 5:30 the Mall will be hopping with the National Festival featuring parades and pageants. In a perfect end to the weekend Her Majesty and members of her family will make a balcony appearance during the fly past. How odd it will be to see them all there with Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother and Princess Margaret so obviously missing.

The good news is that with the exception of the church services and the Guildhall lunch with the Lord Mayor, all the events will be televised. I'm going to have to find someone to tape them for me. I'll definitely want to watch them over and over in the future. There will be plenty of souvenirs too. There are already stamps and coins and I'm sure they'll be some first day covers that I can add to my collection. They'll be teacups, teapots and tea towels to choose from as well as an assortment of decorative plates with the Golden Jubilee dates emblazoned upon them. They'll probably be t-shirts and lots of items with the Union Jack proudly displayed upon them. It will be easy to come across a souvenir that will help you remember this historic occasion.

In closing, I'd like to mention the way Queen Elizabeth II is honoring the traditions of jubilee described in both testaments of the bible. For one thing she has created a new award to honor those who provide service to society. She has also rededicated herself to the service of her people with these words, "I would above all like to declare my resolve to continue, with the support of my family, to serve the people of this great nation of ours to the best of my ability through the changing times ahead." For only the fifth time in 50 years Her Majesty dined at Number 10 Downing Street along with the five living Prime Ministers of her reign - Tony Blair, Margaret Thatcher, James Callaghan, John Major and Edward Heath. It was here that she acknowledged her relationship with Parliament.

So it is a wonderful, awesome, historical celebrations steeped in tradition and pure celebration for the 50 years Queen Elizabeth II has give her all to her people. It is also a solemn occasion for counting the blessing bestowed upon her and her subjects during these years. It is a time to applaud the many contributions she has made to organizations. It is a time to reflect on the many issues she has faced so bravely and the gracious way she has adapted in the rapidly changing culture of our modern world. To every season there is a purpose. We are not always as lucky as this in the monarch department. Let's show our appreciation for Her Majesty by joining in or tuning in to the celebrations.