It was mentioned briefly on Breakfast TV this morning and thats the last I heard about it.

To be honest I think its a shame that its not celebrated - it is part of British history after all......

Happy St Georges's Day Everyone!!

Actually, Jola, it's part of *English* history, And not even actually that, given that St. George wasn't English.

Now, personally, I think we should celebrate St. George's day, but in his aspect as the patron saint of Catalonia. Now *that* would be some wacky fun.

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by Tannhauser
Actually, Jola, it's part of *English* history, And not even actually that, given that St. George wasn't English.

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Quite right he may even have been Turkish

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by Tannhauser
Actually, Jola, it's part of *English* history, And not even actually that, given that St. George wasn't English.

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erm wasnt saint paddy not irish tho!?!?!!!
i dont think that the English celerbrate it cos its seen as racist for some reason?

I am deeply suspicious of any historical figure whose main claim to fame is dragon slaying.


When I was a child I used to love a radio sketch about St George modelled on the TV series Dragnet.

Anyway ... here is a link to the script ... kind of silly but quite funny.

freberg.8m.com/text/st_george.html

(Edited by Incandenza 23/04/2002 15:31)

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by april__29
(quotes)

i dont think that the English celerbrate it cos its seen as racist for some reason?

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I think that's much of the problem. There are a lot of closet patriots throughout the country who are afraid to celebrate their nationality or so much as wave an English flag in case they're accused of being racist or right wing

There's been a lot of coverage on the local news of the elections in places like Burnley and Oldham, where the BNP are standing in almost all constituencies. In one item the reporter commented that support for the BNP in these areas was high, using clips of English flags flying outside people's houses to substantiate that fact.

It seems to me that as long as national pride and the national flag are symbols associated with the BNP, racism and football hooliganism, this country is going to find it very hard to celebrate its Patron Saint's day fully


As an aside: Do you think St Patrick's day would be celebrated anywhere near as much in various places around the world if it wasn't so synonymous with drinking?

Well, quite. St. Patrick's Day is a brand, and a very successful one. Or, if you prefer, a meme.

Billy - I think the association of the cross of St. George with the far right is precisely the problem - there's a feeling that the symbol is compromised. Which is why I;m interested in this idea of having St. George's day as a celebration of England's greatest single achievement - football, one of the most multicultural pursuits in the world.

How do people think St. George could be reclaimed from the far right?

I did see an English flag outside someones house this afternoon but I thought it was 'cos there was football on tonight

We have a pub in our town called 'The George' and they were flying flags. Thats how I knew about it.

I've never really understood why they never really make that big a deal about it. Its sad really

i didn't know until i turned on GMTV this morn'
but now i do so Happy St. George's Day everyone

Seems to me to a patron saint all you had to be was the biggest liar(and not just George):

"considered racist"

My god! Thats crazy!! If it's true. Why should'nt we celebrate it.I also think we should have a public holiday every other country does!!

(Edited by Miss Edith 23/04/2002 19:35)

OK, first off I have a problem with the idea of celebrating our country's history: Piracy, Colonization, Slavery, and Imperialism. I also have a problem with associating our country with any one religion, but a Catholic Saint seems particularly outmoded.

What I would like to see. Something more along the lines of Australia day. But I think we should celebrate a British day, instead of an English one. For one, as a Yorkshireman I personally don't feel particularly English. For two, the cultures of the English, Scottish, Welsh and Irish have been closely interlinked for centuries, and to divide those achievements we can be proud of (chiefly scientific, sporting and musical) seems churlish when our cultures are so closely linked.

Besides, what I really think a Britain Day should be about is celebrating the here and now, our multi-culturism, not past history. There is much about current British culture that should be celebrated and to do so as a whole rather than by historic regions makes more sense to me.

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by Tannhauser
Now, personally, I think we should celebrate St. George's day, but in his aspect as the patron saint of Catalonia. Now *that* would be some wacky fun.

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I misread this as 'patron saint of Catatonia' and was quite confused... well, a little more so than normal anyway

I knew it was St Georges day *proud* It's my cousin's birthday, so its easy to remember.

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by Tannhauser
Actually, Jola, it's part of *English* history, And not even actually that, given that St. George wasn't English.

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I stand corrected - shows my lack of knowledge - I never studied History at school.....

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by Jayjay
OK, first off I have a problem with the idea of celebrating our country's history: Piracy, Colonization, Slavery, and Imperialism.

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Its funny I hear this aguement wheeled out every time lets blame the english for the worlds ills. The four you mentioned above were done by the pharohs, romans, macedonians and even before that but you dont hear them getting slatted for it.

As for the day the other countrys in the British Isles are quiet happy with there days so why change it.

Im proud to be English and if anybody doesnt like it tough

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by JtB
(quotes)

Its funny I hear this aguement wheeled out every time lets blame the english for the worlds ills. The four you mentioned above were done by the pharohs, romans, macedonians and even before that but you dont hear them getting slatted for it.

As for the day the other countrys in the British Isles are quiet happy with there days so why change it.

Im proud to be English and if anybody doesnt like it tough

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Pretty much what I have to say on the subject as well

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by JtB
Its funny I hear this aguement wheeled out every time lets blame the english for the worlds ills.

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No, let's blame the English for the things the English have done. Let's accept that much of our history isn't very nice or something we really want to celebrate.

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The four you mentioned above were done by the pharohs, romans, macedonians and even before that but you dont hear them getting slatted for it.

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And? It all happened a lot longer ago, nor do you see people celebrating these things..

How about something a bit more recent - say, the holocaust. Would you accept the German peoples right to celebrate this part of their history? Or would you prefer, as the vast majority of them do, that they should feel ashamed at what happened?