The Irish celebrate St Patrick's day with pride and fervour, while the Scottish come together to enjoy Burns night. So why isn't St George's day celebrated with the same passion? Why do the English fail to celebrate our patron saint's day in the same way that our closest neighbours do?
St George was a Roman soldier, born in Cappadocia (Turkey), who protested against the Roman's torture of Christians. He was beheaded on 23rd April 303 at Lydda in Palestine.
St George's emblem, a red cross on a white background, was adopted by Richard The Lion Heart and brought to England in the 12th century.
From the 15th century onwards, St George's Day was celebrated with a major feast in England, very much on a par with Christmas. By the end of the 18th century, this tradition had faded. The popularity of St George's Day appears to have gradually increased in recent years though.
I get up, go to the local Tavern and down a few tankards of mead. I go home for lunch where my wife has roasted a wild boar and then I meet up with my mates and do a bit of raping and pillaging, before going out in the evening to the local Morris Dance meeting.
Same thing every year - very boring !
It's had to say why it works, perhaps it's because there is a very long cultural tradition of these activities, perhaps it's because there's no chest beating. I asked my English partner what cultural elements could be celebrated in a similar way? We struggled to find anything that was uniquely English and would focus all English school children across the land.
Talk of no true English people, too many immigrants, too many Scottish politicians and erosion of christianity is all a red herring. St David's Day and Burns night are liked by a celebration of cultural identity. Sadly St Patrick's day is now a commercial festival. The English need to forget the flag waving and find a common culture than everyone can buy into, flying a flag on your car should be left for sporting tournaments (if you must).
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