St Georges day!

[Harveypool]

Has the Government given us a decent reason why we are not allowed a day off to celebrate St.Georges Day?
Don't get me wrong, I don't resent any other nation having a National Day (much!!) but we seem to be the only nation that doesn't.
P.s. I don't care if I offend anybody by flying the George cross, I'm English and I'm proud!!!

[reinganum]

St George's day never has been a public holiday. Nor has St Andrew's Day or St. David's Day.

Public holidays to celebrate this sort of event do not really work, except in peasant societies where the whole village will celebrate together. But in modern urban societies the significance of the day will be lost.

Far better to celebrate, but not have a holiday. That way, children will be in school, but will have special events that day to mark the event. Ditto in workplaces.

Because the British have not ever been liberated from an oppressor (e.g. Bastille Day in France), or have had a significant event in the past to do with the birth of the nation (e.g. 4 July in the U.S), we have never really "done" national days.

[Harveypool]

Thanks reinganum. Probably the best answer I've heard.
Would still be nice to have another day though. Perhaps we should declare July 1st as "independence from smokey pubs day" and spend that day in the pub on an annual basis!

[tigerlily11]

For the past few years the media has made quite a bit of a big deal about St Patricks day. This is all over the media mind not just in Ireland.
I don't seem the same amount of effort for St geaorge, St David Or St Andrew.
I have no objection to St Patrick But I live in England and St George is my Saint.
Come we need a bit of national identity here.
And yes I know he probably wasn't even born here but right no he the only figure we have so lets hear it for St George.
Tiger

[johnny37]

I dont mind the Irish having St Patricks day, but St Georges Day? Most people wouldnt be aware of it even when it is happening. He's just a mythical figure who slayed a mythical beast.

ps I can understand someone being offended by the English flag. It is meant to show the blood of the crusaders. Perhaps we should change that as well.

[annierak]

I shall be celebrating St Georges Day.

With a cake and candles and some bubbly !!!!


And I will be wearing red rose, as I have done for many years. Sometimes being the only one I see all day.

I notice that there seems to be more cards in the shops to send on this day. but that is just another con to get yer money. Everything is so commercialised these days.

One year, my birthday was on Easter Sunday, so I had birthday, Easter and St Georges day cards on show . It certainly confused some visitors.