It's when we choose to demonstrate national pride in the glory of someone who wasnt English, never set foot in England, never did anything for England and is patron saint of about another dozen countries and cities. Brilliant. When it comes to this it's probably the only time I'm envious of the Convicts - Australia Day is definitely the way to do it.
There's nothing I enjoy more than being reminded that being 'proud to be English' has had all the meaning ripped asunder and trodden on by a bunch of goose-stepping, knuckle dragging meatheads who are just as comfortable worshipping the most murderous dictator in history. Happy St Racist's Day everyone!
Which famous Englishman is also synonymous with 23rd April ? Easy-peasy for those quizzers amongst us.
Saints are chosen by the message they send out. I think St. David is the only one who comes from the country he represents.
When did I only say it was about being from that country? St Patrick lived in ireland, he carried out deeds on behalf of the Irish and he is uniquely Ireland's patron saint (I think). These are all things I griped about us having St George as our patron saint. If I'd said "why is he our patron saint when he isnt even English?" then both you and OLM would have a point. But I didnt.
"In later centuries, Edward III’s kingship came to be seen as the epitome of how a medieval king should rule, and St George – the king’s patron saint – came to symbolise both his great kingship and the national pride that went with it. After the battle of Agincourt, the saint’s day (23 April) was made a major feast day – a national holiday – and it remained so until the mid-sixteenth century. That is why, throughout the Wars of the Roses, St George acted as a unifying figure, a patron saint to both Lancastrians and Yorkists. Similarly, this association with great kingship and national pride meant that St George was one of the few saints who continued to have relevance in England after the Reformation. Only in the last two centuries – when the English nation has been somewhat submerged in the larger entities of the United Kingdom and the British Empire – has St George lost this connection, with his flag now being more significant than the saint himself, as the most potent icon of English identity."
St George has been patron saint of England for over 700 years and is completely symbolic, it's just an excuse to show some pride in your nation once a year. Only it seems that even once a year is too much for most people, which I think is a shame. We celebrate Christmas and Easter and that Jesus bloke could never be arsed to come over here either.
A large portion of the world celebrate those. They're not unique days to celebrate 'Englishness'. And all that applies to Georgia, Egypt, Bulgaria, Aragon, Catalonia, Romania, Ethiopia, Greece, India, Iraq, Israel, Lebanon, Lithuania, Palestine, Portugal, Serbia, Macedonia, Ukraine, Russia, Syria, Genoa, Amersfoort, Beirut, Botoşani, Drobeta Turnu-Severin, Timişoara, Fakiha, Bteghrine, Cáceres, Ferrara, Freiburg im Breisgau, Kragujevac, Kumanovo, Ljubljana, Pérouges, Pomorie, Preston, Qormi, Rio de Janeiro, Lydda, Lviv, Barcelona, Moscow and Victoria does it?
