Let me be the first here……..

[Malc2098]

…….. to wish English members a Happy St Georges Day.

I seem to recall in the 50s and 60s we wore our youth organisation uniforms to school on St Georges day; me Life Boys.

St George is an interesting figure and not only just the patron saint of England. The following words are not mine but I agree with them.

When we celebrate St George's day, we are celebrating a man of faith, who did not back down and renounce what he believed in, and paid the ultimate price. It is his values, not his nationality, our country has chosen to honour.

 

[AJB Temple]

My (ex) motorbike club used to do a St George's day ride out, complete with flags and tunics. We also had lunch somewhere far away in St George & Dragon pub.

 

[Mike G]

Of course, our REAL patron saint is St Edmund......You know, before a Turkish chap who never even heard of the existence of England took his place. And Edmund was martyred for exactly the same reason as George (Georgi).

But thanks, Malcolm. The village had a lunch in the cricket pavilion to celebrate.

 

[wallace]

I ordered the wrong size flag

 

[Steve Maskery]

I really do not understand this Patron Saint thing at all. I don't just mean St George. {Though it makes me laugh that the Cross of Saint George, as an emblem of English Nationalism, is used by racists (as well as others, of course) who would gladly ban every Turk and other foreigners from the land). All of them.

Here in France there are lots of Jours Ferriés, Bank Holidays, any excuse for a day off work. This Saint's Day, That Saint's Day. It wouldn't surprise me if they have a Patron Saint of Patron Saints Day.

I just don't get it.
S

 

[TrimTheKing]

Not to mention the flag is taken from the flag of Genoa from back in the 13thC when England adopted it because the Genoese protected our sea traders from Mediterranean pirates...

The whole national pride thing, as it's understood right now, is utter nonsense. I wish 'some' people in England (and other countries of course, but England is where I'm from so all I'm commenting on) truly understood the political and religious nuances that led to both the selection of St George and the adoption of the flag, they would realise that almost every one contradicts racist and Xenophobic ideals that some of these people hold. They basically come from a desire or need to ally with others, and promote peaceful coexistence, for means of self preservation.

Then again, a lot of these people use these things as an excuse for legitimising their own bigotry rather than a solid factual basis, so they're too stupid or pig headed to understand anyway.

 

[Raymedullary]

I'm with you on this Steve, too often flags are hijacked by the right. The wonderful irony of this is often that said individuals don't even understand the English/UK differentiation. National pride? too many un-justified "excursions" for me.

 

[AndyP]

Jours fériés though do not always mean a day off work here Steve. The days are celebrated on the exact date not the following Monday. So if 25th December, for example, falls on Saturday, tough, normal days work on the 24th and back to work on the 26th. In May when May 1st, May 8th and May 14th could all fall at the weekend there could be no days off either.

As for celebrating “names days” or saints days that is just another excuse for another birthday type celebration especially as the names days in this family are more evenly spread throughout the year, whereas we have 4 birthdays in 10 days each spring with 3 of those in 4 days.

As for the England/UK/Great Britain differentiation. To really understand that you have to try and explain it to a foreigner.