To not really like or approve of St George's Day?

[BlueDressingGown]

I don't like it and I don't really want my children to participate in our village parade.

I don't really give a monkeys about 'patron saints' and am not of the faith that initially made him a saint. I don't believe in saints. I don't think people should be sainted. He was nothing to do with England and never came to England. (I'm also not English, by the way, but now living in England, but that's not why I don't like him!)

I also feel that this day gets seized on by English nationalists and used to stir up racist feelings regarding people who 'aren't really English'.

Does it need your approval?! If you don't like it.. Fine. Ignore and don't participate and the world will keep revolving.

Actually, one of the reasons I celebrate St George's day is by way of taking it back from racist bucketheads and making it, like the various other Guinness/leeks/haggis/flower-waving celebrations, a big cheerful daft party that other people can join in no matter what their background.

So I will be out dancing with my Morris team, sinking a pint or two of English Ale and having a laugh. And if you don't want to join in, then you have no need to, but you can stick your disapproval up your arse for all the effect it would have on us.

Haha, sorry missed the SanDiego bit. Stand by the rude bit though. :) Strikes me as a bit unnecessary, to be honest.

You are right - it doesn't need my permission and I'm not wound up or outraged or upset about it or anything - just a bit curious about whether others disliked it too.

pocketsaviour I'm sorry for your loss. :(

TiggyD You're right. I forgot about his work with dragons.

LowryFan That made me laugh. I would so join in a festival of people prancing around with baked goods.

When i was growing up everyone in the street hung their flags out on St Georges day. I thought it was because they were celebrating my birthday...

I find it frustrating that so many of my (English) peers will go out and celebrate St Patrick's with gusto and it's totally acceptable.

If we did the same St George's style people might assume we're nationalist/racist/whatever.

Life's what you make it BlueDressingGown there are no rules for St Georges Day!!

YY SolidGoldBrass

That's how I feel too. Apart from I'm going on my hols on Thursday

I sort of agree. I think we should have a proper national day like many other countries. St George's Day is a rubbish substitute. Whilst St George is our patron saint, whereas Ireland, Spain, Russia etc have strong Orthodox/Catholic traditions which mean saints days are culturally embedded, the celebration of Saints' days is much more subdued in Protestant traditions like ours. On top of this our patron saint has no link to this country having never, as far as I'm aware, even stepped foot here. I think we need a better alternative... VE day perhaps?

Today 21:49 BlueDressingGown

Haha, sorry missed the SanDiego bit.

Helps to read it all doesn't it?

APril 23rd is also (supposedly)Shakespeare's birthday, which works for me, too.

Don't let your children participate then.

Do you celebrate any other "days"?

Yes, I'm all for a better alternative! I love a good festival but this one - meh, I just don't like the saint thing, the lack of England connection and the nationalist racism thing.

StillStayingClassySanDiego Did you really just take time out of your life to come back onto this thread and quote me on the thing where I missed out a bit of your username and make a snide comment about my reading skills? Wow.

Yabvvvvu. Why should we not have pride in our Country, and just because we have, does not mean we a members of the BNP. Stay at home and ignore the celebrations, and let everybody else enjoy them!

I know a young man called George. It's his birthday on Thursday. He should consider himself lucky he wasn't born on Pancake Day.

if it helps Blue I am a humanist wishy washy liberal multi cultural embracing daughter of an Irish immigrant

I am not a nationalist racist at all

I like the historical celebration our town holds - it's fun for the kids and involves men in armour on horses

No, please don't misunderstand me. Pride in one's country is great. Patriotism is fun and fine and wonderful. I just feel that this particular festival is a bit odd as St. George is literally nothing to do with England except in a very obscure way related to one particular faith. He never came here and afaik had no interest in the country at all!

Make it Shakespeare day. :)

YANBU !!!
My DD would really like a pet dragon but can we find one? No, not a sniff of one thanks to that blasted man.
And as for Shakespeare? Thanks to him, I can recite Portia's speech in my sleep 30 years after learning it. It's like an earworm!
Fortunately I don't live in their home country and have a family birthday to celebrate on the 23rd which I am quite looking forward to

Do you not approve of any celebratory days with a national or religious feel?

What are your thoughts on:

Christmas day
Easter Sunday
St Patrick's day
Shrove Tuesday
All the rest?

So sorry pocketsaviour (((hugs)))

And wow, Blue, I never thought I'd find someone who could out-funsponge my mother

We celebrate the birth off Jesus with Saint Nicholas.
You should give that one a swerve too.

St Andrew never visited Scotland.

St David was Welsh.

St Patrick was English.

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You haven't answered why you think St. George's Day requires your approval?

Also if you were not intending to goad why the inflammatory title and opening post?

It is World Book Day.

23rd April was chosen as it's the date of the birth and death of Shakespeare and the death of Cervantes.

Hence all the books being sold in Catalonia.