Have a Happy Saint George’s Day for those in England % English abroad 🙂
Sadly St George’s Day no longer attracts as much attention in England as does St David’s Day for Wales, St Patrick’s Day for Ireland or St Andrew’s Day for Scotland.
A recent survey found only 40 per cent were able to identify St George’s Day as falling on April 23, compared with 71 who could give July 4 as the American national holiday and 42 per cent who knew that March 17 was the Irish one.
A Think Tank called British Future which looks at identity and integration and carried out the survey says the results suggest many English people are too “nervous” to celebrate St George’s Day.
It cites concerns among many that national symbols like the St George’s Cross flag may be interpreted as racist by others, and that celebration of the national saint’s day could upset ethnic minority groups. It also accused politicians failing to “engage” with the concept of ‘Englishness’, to help to promote more pride in it.
Celebrate St George’s Day -23 April
Also, I think that the English character is not given to open displays of pride we just carry on. However, many of us will wear a rose flower badge with pride to celebrate the day today :).
The legend is that St George travelled to Libya where he met a poor hermit who told him that a dragon terrorised the country. The dragon demands a beautiful maiden to be sacrificed every day until the daughter of the king remains as the last sacrifice. The king said that if anyone can rescue his daughter her hand will be given in marriage.
Sabra, the princess was being led to the place of “death” when George took her back and persuaded to return to her palace. He then entered the dragon’s valley where the dragon attacked George. George struck the dragon with a spear which broke as the dragon was covered with hard impenetrable scales.
The dragon’s venom was going to poison George as he fell from his horse. Luckily he managed to roll under an enchanted orange tree, against which poison would not work. After he regained his strength George struck the beast with his sword to no avail; the dragon poured poison on him and his armour which split in two.
George refreshed himself again from the magic orange tree. With his sword, he rushed at the dragon and pierced it under its wing where there were no scales. George was able to kill the dragon.
We do not know if he settled down with Sabra.
The possible real George is believed to have been born in Turkey, living in the 3rd century AD. His parents were Christians and George became a Roman soldier at the age of 17. He joined the Roman Army and was renowned for his valour and bravery.
Although he served under the pagan emperor, Diocletian, George did not forget his Christian faith. However, the emperor persecuted Christians. St George pleaded with the emperor to save their lives but he was ignored and Diocletian tried to make St George deny his Christian faith by torture.
St George showing incredible courage and faith would not renounce his faith and was beheaded in Palestine on 23 April 303 AD.
St George is also the patron saint of several countries including part of Spain, Ethiopia, Greece, Palestine and Russia.
English born and with an interesting recorded history, St Edmund who had been England’s Patron Saint until the 12th Century, the Council of Oxford replaced St Edmund. Campaigns have been launched & I tend to agree that St Edmund (Click link) should be reinstated.
Hi, Just spotted your “British By Birth” pic and this website.
In the recent 2023 UK census the Scotland Census Form offered SCOTTISH as a first choice for Q16. “What is your ethnicity?”.
In the England and Wales Census Form, Ethnic English people were NOT an “English” tickbox at all. Instead Ethnic English people were forced to tick a box that essentially meant “British” (which most Ethnic English people did).That is why the Ethnic English do not appear in the Census Results.
Clearly the British Government is bent on allowing Scottish ethnicity to survive in Scotland but is dtermined to remove English (and Welsh) Ethnic identity from England and enforce a single ethnic identity – “BRITISH”.
The main reason why St George’s Day is barely celebrated in England is that many local councils are dominated by immigrant BRITISH councillors who have bannded marches and celebrations involving crowds.
Many Councils in England’s Western counties are Welsh dominated and Scots dominated in England’s Northern counties.
Sadly, even the vast majority who were born, live and work alongside ethnic English people in England either prefer (or have been actively coerced into adopting a British identity rather than an English one.
Interestingly, my birth certificate clearly states “Nationaility …. English”, not British.
Strangely, British passports quote BRITISH to describe Nationality which is incorrect. British is actually the holder’s CITIZENSHIP, not Nationality.
Cheers from New Zealand. Phil Drane
I agree Phil, being English today has been largely subsumed by being just British. Sadly some compare & blight being English with being right wing nationalist leaning Not generally applied to the Welsh & Scottish, who are rightly proud of their heritage.
Happy St George’s Day. May his sword of valour put an end to Covid-19
I agree Phil, being English today has been subsumed by being just British. Sadly some compare& blight being English as being right wing nationalist, not applied to the Welsh & Scottish, who are rightly proud of their heritage.
HAPPY ST GEORGE’S DAY. LET’S START A PETITION TO MAKE THIS DAY A BANK HOLIDAY!
HAPPY ST GEORGE’S DAY!