When I look at popular images of national cultures, I often think there's a very thin line between true representations of those cultures and stereotypical clichés. Think Scotland and what do you get? Tartan, bagpipes, kilts, sporrans, shortbread, etc. Think Ireland and what do you get? GREEN, the word Celtic everywhere, Guinness, shamrocks, diddley-diddley music, etc. Even thinking England, which is popularly supposed to have no national clichés, has London Buses, Big Ben, Morris dancers, cricket, village greens, shepherds in smocks, the Union flag/flag of St. George (take your pick), bowler hats, etc. All of it clichéd beyond measure and stereotype, and I personally find it all a bit old (bowler) hat.

Most of the pubs in my village will probably having some sort of attempt at a St. Patrick's Day bash - either a special menu or Guinness at a cut price (can't be bad, I suppose), or some themed music event - even when the Irish population is practically non-existent. These sorts of days actually end up being another day on the marketing men's calendar. Christmas... St. Valentine's Day... Mothers' Day... Easter... St. Patrick's Day... and all the way back to Christmas again via Fathers' Day, Hallowe'een and the rest.

So, actually I'd be quite happy if we didn't all succumb to nationalistic fervour and jingoism on a day picked at random for an imaginary saint who nobody knows much about. What you could do, if you wanted to celebrate the English spirit as I understand it, would be - on April 23rd, if that's the choice - to do one small and quiet unseen act of kindness or charity on that day. And then get riotously pissed in the evening, of course.