The lions are from Anjou in france, from the coat of arms of Henry II. I agree that we are very much a mongrel nation, and all the better for it. I think that there are a great many aspects of 'englishness' that are worthy of celebrating, and I love this country, and many of the poeple in it. St George represents all that is wrong with 'englishness' the St george cross is synonymous with the crusades, surely one of the most reprehensible episodes is western european history, st george is an unrepresentative choice of saint foisted on us by a feudal monarchy that still seems to want to rule in the manner of their medieval forefathers, and is a saint whose history has been subject to revisionism from the victorians.
Indeed, let's find a symbol of englishness that we can all celebrate, I would suggest Watt Tyler, who led the peasant's Revolt, tho I'm sure readers will have their own suggestions.