Celebrate St. George's Day

[BEANFro Elite]

It's a free country, help yourself. I however think that if there's a need for another public holiday to celebrate our national identity, it should be for something we actually should be proud of, like VE day for example, not for some ancient bloke who supposedly killed a creature that doesn't exist.

That was kind of my point in my post if you think about it

But like I said, people feel they need an excuse to get absolutely rat-arsed

[iranu]

I totally disagree. Myth and symbology have always played apart in the culture of our country. (King Arthur for example). We have "three lions" as a national symbol but lions are not native to England. I think there are unicorns in some of the crown designs too and they don't even exist! I personally love heraldry and it's symbology even though a lot of the creatures are mythical.

Could Rave also dismiss the Welsh flag for carrying a dragon because dragons don't exist. The English have always been somewhat eccentric but I think that Rave misses the point with regards to the symbology of the Cross of Saint George and it's adoption as an English symbol which was originally adopted by the army.

St Georges actions and principles are the same qualities that should embody the nation, qualities which were relied upon to produce Victory in Europe. The George Cross is awarded "for Gallantry" (bravery) to both soldier and civilian. We can celebrate St George because we can identify with what he stood for and can emulate his courage.

Unfortunately the dragon myth (being the most vivid image) is always the defence of the people who wish to dismiss him. There is much more to it than that.

http://www.britannia.com/history/stgeorge.html

[M0nkeyb0Y]

I however think that if there's a need for another public holiday to celebrate our national identity, it should be for something we actually should be proud of, like VE day for example.

Why not have them both? On average I think we're about 3 national holidays a year behind the rest of Europe. That's two fixed, now for the third....

I nominate Guy Fawkes Day.

All we've got to do now is stop working 40-45 hour weeks and start working 30 hour weeks like the rest of Europe.

[shelley bda]

All we've got to do now is stop working 40-45 hour weeks and start working 30 hour weeks like the rest of Europe.

Yay! got my vote! i reckon we should have siesta's too

[M0nkeyb0Y]

The George Cross is awarded "for Gallantry" (bravery) to both soldier and civilian. We can celebrate St George because we can identify with what he stood for and can emulate his courage.

I hate to be picky but, The George Cross was first issued by George VI in the last war.

[Jonny M]

Do we need an excuse to drink? Is "for the hell of it" not good enough any more?

[Darth_Spud]

Myth and symbology have always played apart in the culture of our country. (King Arthur for example).

Isn’t King Arthur a Celtic myth not an English myth? Some argue that King Arthur is either a Welsh, Cornish or Irish tale which ties in with the Celtic thing.

[Knoxville]

Do we need an excuse to drink? Is "for the hell of it" not good enough any more?

Good enough for me

[fat jez]

As much as I agree that we could do with more public holidays (and more evenly spaced out) I don't agree with making Patron Saints days holidays. We need to try and standardise public holidays and I don't see that having different parts of the UK off on different days is the right way about it. Important events (like VE day) are what should be used, as they affect the whole country and alienate nobody. The Scots or Welsh (for example) won't want St George's day off, any more than the English or Welsh would appreciate St Andrew's Day.

Making St George's day would not get my vote. Although VE day would, along with Guy Fawkes night (since we don't have any public holidays between August and Christmas).

Cheers,
Stephen

[Jonny M]

Good enough for me

We don't really need to check with you first though