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'.

Some of the difference has to do with race. A person who is clearly not white or black (or a mix thereof) who refers to themselves as an "American" might get some questions about "where you're really from", or even "what are you", or things like that. If you're white or black and don't have an obvious foreign accent, you could probably get away with just calling yourself American. I don't have enough experience with Native Americans to know what happens if they call themselves American. I know a lot of them do refer to themselves by specific tribe, rather than "American" or "Native American". A person who clearly looks East Asian or Indian or Mexican or Middle Eastern is likely to have a different experience referring to themselves as American than a black or white person is.

Does it break down on racial lines like this in the UK, too? Is a person of, say, French descent less likely to refer to themselves as English than someone of equally recent Indian descent?

We don't celebrate St. George's day here. I wish we got a holiday for it, but I wish we got a lot more holidays than we do on general principle.

OP not back?

St George's Day tomorrow, let's go to Asda and buy in bulk, let's celebrate our 'Englishness' with bunting, flags and whatever is 3 for 2!

Who's with me?

"I am the daughter of a refugee. I don't find the idea of St George's day the least bit offensive. I think far too many people look for offense in areas where no offense is intended."

Really? I think too many people are very quick to assume that other people are offended by things when all they are saying is that they don't like them very much!

when all they are saying is that they don't like them very much!

Most people are amazed that she's found anything to "not like" given that St George's day is probably the most low key & un-celebrated of the 4.

And some people do sound offended....

The only offended people seem to be the ""how very dare you not want to wrap yourself in the flag- we'll all be forced to wear burquas next. In fact, I think people are forced to wear them in some towns already....

To the OP...Happy St. George's Day evil

Hooray! Happy Sain't Georges day!
(Skips off to force people to be patriotic and cause offence)

I will be going out today wearing my red rose. Today is my day to claim back the English flag from the parties, from the bullies and from the narrow minded zealots. Today is my chance to celebrate living in a beautiful country.

People like the OP make me want to wrap myself in the English flag on St George's day even though I don't usually do nothing to celebrate at all. Like 95% of the population.

Time for a bit of the late, lovely Rik Mayall....

www.youtube.com/watch?v=oMAFme1hBH0

I'm quite happy about the amount of St. George messages on my Facebook feed today.
I have suggested a dragon slaying party. I have a risk assessment all ready if anyone's up for it?

Happy St Georges Day All....

Happy St George's day.

OP - YABU.

Great news article about who St George was

Well, if xenophobic sentiment is your concern then just keep running down the national day - that'll definitely help.

If xenophobic sentiment is your concern then just keep running down the national day - that'll definitely help.

I like it. School had a red and white day, or scouts uniform today.
Scouts have a parade on Sunday.
My 2 love it all.

I don't hate the day and definitely don't hate people having fun celebrating it!

What I cannot stand is how so many people use it as another excuse to whinge about foreigners or how no one 'does enough' for it. We are a very 'entitled' nation and seem reliant on other people for our enjoyment and many other things

I'm a Jew brought up in England. I love England and believe St George's day is for me (even though I'm not Christian!!) and all people who live in England.

I think your feelings are deeply routed from elsewhere and you have projected them onto the English celebrating what is essentially a fun day.

Here solely to try out the
He (she?) is lovely.

I had a cup of tea to celebrate.

I hope you were wearing your Dragon Onesie, Tiggs?

We acknowledged St George's Day in a meeting at work and conjured a vision of a very senior person dressed in green lycra, with huge wings, who we might be allowed to train. . It was very very funny and brightened an afternoon.

do everyone a favour then and keep your miserable family away