How Can St George's Day Be Celebrated?

[sp1814]

Every year around this time, friends I've know for years suddenly discover they have (questionable) Irish roots and jump on the joyous St Patricks Day celebrations.

I've always noticed how every Irish bar I've been into has been warm, friendly and inviting.

I've always thought that it's a shame there isn't the same publicity given to St George's Day (April 23rd), and suspect that some of the conclusions drawn in this report have a ring of truth about it:

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/by-george-english-should-fly-the-flag-and-take-pride-on-23-april-says-ed-miliband-adviser-9195836.html

Could it be that after years being draped around the shoulders of the EDL and BNP, that the flag of St George has been a little 'tainted'?

[emmie]

the American Flag is all, if it's burned or desecrated in some way, then all hell breaks loose.

[ichkeria]

As an Irish person nothing irritates me more than English people celebrating St Patrick's Day while pretending to be Irish :-)
St George's Day is gradually becoming more celebrated and quite right too. The flag was largely "reclaimed" from dubious elements in 1996 in a concerted effort by England football fans. I'd say the biggest thing stopping it becoming more popular is the English themselves getting too carried away on March 17 :-)

[boxtops]

Roast beef

[emmie]

English people may have Irish family, ties, i do.

[jomifl]

Sp, nothing specifically English about being gay is there :o)

[hc4361]

The English don't need to celebrate St George's Day in the way the Irish celebrate St Patrick's day because the English have never been under foreign rule with the need to keep and stamp their separate identity.

That's one theory, anyway

[jno]

I'd say keep Help for Heroes out of it - no point in trying to free the day from politics if you're then going to associate it with the military.

[Marijn]

St George is the patron saint of twenty different countries, so I think that's why we're not particularly bothered about celebrating his day.
But if I was celebrating something particularly English, I would have a roast dinner and apple pie and custard.

[hc4361]

And St. Patrick was British, not Irish, marijn.

[Booldawg]

fly our flag, drink a pint of real ale and enjoy a fish supper with mushy peas. All quintisentially English!

[hc4361]

Nooooo, not mushy peas for me, thank you.

[Booldawg]

pickled egg?

[ludwig]

// The campaign would feature famous British Georges (George Michael, Boy George, George from Rainbow, George Dawes...ahem...George Galloway), with the tag line: 'By George...it's April 23rd'. //

Good idea sp, a greek, an irishman, a hippo puppet, a fictitious bloke, and a Scot, to celebrate the English nantional day.

[ludwig]

I actually agree with what AOG said on page 1. English people celebrating England are invariably branded racist or arrogant - usually by other English people desparate to demonstrate to everyone that they're not racist or arrogant themselves.

Personally I don't think we should bother doing anything. They should give us a bank holiday though - is it one already? - I honestly don't know.
If not it should be, and then we can all individually celebrate it (or not) in whatever way we see fit.

[hc4361]

English people don't have the identity crisis of other UK nationals. I have never been asked if I'm Irish, Welsh, Scottish or Manx when abroad although my Irish, Welsh, Scottish and Manx pals are always asked if they are English.

[sp1814]

ludwig

George Michael is English, as is Boy George.

And for the purposes of advertising, George the Hippo will resonate with many people, whether he's a human or not!

[ludwig]

// George Michael is English, as is Boy George. //

I know. Just joking.

[emmie]

hc, as i pointed out way back in the thread, Romano British to be precise

and George O'Dowd, Boy George is from a large Irish family and
George Michael from a Cypriot/English family.