A council has written to Prime Minister Tony Blair urging him to consider making the anniversary of the Battle of Hastings a Bank Holiday.
Hastings Borough Council leader Jeremy Birch says October 14, 1066 is one of the most important dates in history.
He pointed out in his letter to the PM that the English language and many elements of Britain's legal system could be traced back to that day.
Mr Birch said: "It is surely appropriate for October 14, 1066 to be remembered as the birth date of the nation. "What better way to do this than to have the whole country join us in our celebrations."
England currently lags far behind the majority of its European partners where Bank Holidays are concerned.
England has just 8 public holidays a year compared with the Italians who have 16 bank holidays, the French with 11, and the Spanish and Germans with 14.
In a poll earlier this year, three out of four people in England said they wanted January 2 to be a public holiday in line with the situatiuon north of the border.
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