The Scots Do Their St Andrews, The Welsh Their St David, Tomorrow St Patrick's For The Irish

[Bobbisox1]

Who celebrates Saint Saint Georges Day on April 23rd, I never have , have you?

[Jackdaw33]

Never, although when I was in the Scouts we used to do a St. George's Day church parade.

[Buenchico]

As a kid, I never even knew about it. I knew that 20th April was my birthday, 21st April was the Queen's birthday and 22nd April was my mum's birthday but I never knew that there was any special significance to the next day in the sequence. Even when I later learned that 23rd April is William Shakespeare's birthday, I still didn't know that it was St George's Day. (I vaguely remember asking my mum why there was a white flag, with a red cross, flying on a church, and she probably mentioned St George, but I still didn't associate the saint with any particular day).

Even later in life, St George's Day has never meant much to me. However I had a friend who lived in Ipswich, but whose work later took him to London, who always celebrated St George's Day in style. For example, he decided to travel from London to Ipswich to do an all-day pub crawl around some of his old haunts in the town. He didn't just hop on a train though; he hired a coach to bring thirty of his work colleagues with him and have one hell of a party!

[Canary42]

No, we've gone off it since we found out he was Greek, LOL.

[Canary42]

/// 23rd April is William Shakespeare's birthday ///

No evidence, but assumed from his baptism three days later. But we do have evidence that it was his deathday.

[Togo]

Not since the boy scouts or Grammar School. It is boastful, Nationalistic, triumphalism according to ... errr the Welsh, Scottish, and Irish.

[Bobbisox1]

In that case it must be right Togo :0)

[gness]

I've always thought it was a shame that the English don't have a bit of fun on St. George's Day.

St. Patrick's Day is a big family event here. Mums, Dads and Grandparents help the little ones make costumes or banners as the whim takes them for the parades held in villages and towns.

We meet up and have music, dancing and many other forms of entertainment (whatever the weather). It's the end of the dark, winter days and for us the start of the tourist season in our village....usually.

I've never known our celebrations to be as Togo described. He must know something I don't.

[jourdain2]

When I was little there was a St. George's Day Brownies et al parade - it was a big occasion and we had to be smartly turned-out - and we used to mention it in school and Sunday School and sing Jerusalem etc..

I think it's time we did a bit more for our national day really. For some reason we've become a bit cowed - I think it started with footie and the hooligan element waving St. George's Cross flags. We ought to stand up to this negative publicity.

[New Judge]

When I used to wear a suit to work I would always wear a red rose on 23rd April.

[barry1010]

The English don't need to demonstrate patriotism because they are English.

[Jackdaw33]

Personally I think it's rather naff. The English don't need to flaunt their nationality, that is left to the lesser nations with a chip on their shoulder.

[Old_Geezer]

No, the English are above that sort of nonsense.

[ToraToraTora]

I do bobbi.

[ToraToraTora]

canary: "No, we've gone off it since we found out he was Greek, LOL. " - no he was a captain not a bubble.

[ToraToraTora]

ba for JD 22:13

[Zacs-Master]

It’s one of my pal’s birthdays, so I’ve been known to celebrate. But only as a by-product.

[Zacs-Master]

Yes, I agree with BA for JD.

[maggiebee]

I always remember St Patrick's day as it is my youngest grandchild's birthday. When I worked, St Andrews day was a public holiday in my area, although not in the whole of Scotland.

[Paigntonian]

I always wear a red rose. People tend to ask why.

[gness]

Ahhh...so now I know why the English don't celebrate and have a bit of fun on St. George's Day...too bloody miserable.