The Glorious Twelfth is the twelfth day of August, signifying the start of the shooting season for red grouse in Great Britain and Northern Ireland, with the ptarmigan also being hunted to a lesser extent during this period. Not all game have the same start to their open seasons – most begin on 1 September, with 1 October for woodcock and pheasant. Since English law prohibits game bird shooting on a Sunday, the start date is postponed to 13 August on years when the 12th falls on a Sunday.