Gude Cause
By Jess McCabe | 20 May 2009, 14:01
Gude Cause are planning to re-enact a key march for women’s suffrage. The 10 October march in Edinburgh will celebrate 100 years since Women’s Suffrage Movement Procession along Princes Street in 1909:
Join us on this special day that will deliver a history lesson on the streets of Edinburgh. The day will provide an energising focus and raise the profile of women’s activism as it demonstrates the power of women’s contribution to society, culture and all aspects of public and private life in 21st Century Scotland.
There’s a banner making group, which has its first meeting tonight at The Forest Cafe. They’re planning to recreate the banner in the image, which gives the group its name, as well as making individual banners.
Even if you can’t make the march, if you’re crafty you can contribute a square to a commemorative quilt, learn procession songs, or go to one of the other events being organised by Gude Cause.
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Kristel said:
What a fantastic idea!
Didn't the suffragettes often dress in white on their marches, because that colour had some kind of symbolism for them (I can't remember what)? Maybe each person could wear something white, even if it's just a scarf or gloves.
Posted on 20 May 2009 at 2:59 PM
saranga said:
Purple and green were the colours of the suffragettes. I don't know about white.
Posted on 20 May 2009 at 5:06 PM
Ruth said:
Purple, green AND white were the colours of the Women's Social and Political Union, one prominent suffragette organisation (though not the only one).
http://flagspot.net/flags/gb_suffr.html
Suffragettes sometimes marched in white for increased visibility, as well as it being symbolic of "purity in public and private life" - a little bit of Victorian/Edwardian high-mindedness, but also a protest against slurs that this was a movement of women who were 'not respectable'.
Posted on 20 May 2009 at 8:17 PM
Laura said:
People attending suffragette marches were encouraged to wear white, with purple and green sashes, as well as purple and green hat ribbons, belts, and things like that.
Posted on 20 May 2009 at 9:08 PM
Ria said:
As I understand it, it was green, white and violet as the initials stand for Give Women the Vote.
I wonder if this is related to the fashion in Victorian jewellery for spelling out initials and words by the use of jewels?
Posted on 21 May 2009 at 10:47 AM
Saranga said:
Cool stories everyone :)
Posted on 21 May 2009 at 12:35 PM
Amy said:
see suffragette banners from the Womens Library Collections online at the Visual Arts Data Service (VADS):
http://www.vads.ac.uk/collections/FSB
Posted on 17 July 2009 at 12:55 PM
caroline said:
GWV green white violet...give women votes...what a great day we had today, gude cause march 1909-2009
Posted on 10 October 2009 at 9:16 PM