St Georges Day

Subject: St Georges Day
From: goatfell
Date: 23 Apr 08 - 04:39 AM

from a proud Scot I hope you all in England have a great day.

Tom

Subject: RE: St Georges Day
From: Schantieman
Date: 23 Apr 08 - 06:39 AM

vmt Arran.

Sadly there are no roses in bloom yet, but I suspect the Mummers and dancers will be out this evening.

Steve

Subject: RE: St Georges Day
From: GUEST,MC Fat (at work)
Date: 23 Apr 08 - 06:43 AM

He was born in Turkey this proud Englishman !!! And he killed dragon's except the one at my pub

Subject: RE: St Georges Day
From: GUEST,Dáithí
Date: 23 Apr 08 - 06:48 AM

As usual...no sign of any acknowledgement - let alone celebration! - that it is England's national day....sigh.
No flags, no parties, no TV or radio programmes designed specifically to highlight this.

I suppose to do otherwise would be juast...un-English!
Dáithí
(not English, buiochas le Dia!)

Subject: RE: St Georges Day
From: John Routledge
Date: 23 Apr 08 - 06:55 AM

Tune in at 11.15pm to Radio 3 Late Junction. St Georges day music/song.

Subject: RE: St Georges Day
From: jacqui.c
Date: 23 Apr 08 - 07:02 AM

Thank you Arran.

Here in Maine we have the cross of St George flying, with the Stars and Stripes, and I have my red and white beribboned St George's Day hat ready to wear when I go out.

I tried to get the cross of St George lapel pin but to no avail - maybe I'll have to make one myself for next year!

Subject: RE: St Georges Day
From: GUEST,Dáithí
Date: 23 Apr 08 - 07:05 AM

Will do, John...thank you.

My point, though, was the lack of general acknowledgment across the society as a whole. I note another thread about what people are doing for St George's Day...plenty of things going on - but it's all niche stuff. (I'd expect English folkies to organise/particpate/spectae in folkie type activities. but that's all there seems to be.)
I asked a few students I work with about St George...they had no clue. Nor - perhaps more importantly - had they any opinion about having a national day. Seems irrelevant to the English sense of identity...whereas in other countries of these islands, it seems to have generic appeal and something of relevance for many strands of society.
Cheers!

D

Subject: RE: St Georges Day
From: Sugwash
Date: 23 Apr 08 - 07:16 AM

I heard on Radio 4 this morning that Gordon Broon has decreed that the flag of St George should be flown above Downing Street and other government buildings today, which is nice of him.

Subject: RE: St Georges Day
From: GUEST,Jim Martin
Date: 23 Apr 08 - 07:17 AM

Something was mentioned on the air yesterday that the government wanted public places to fly the St. George flag!

Subject: RE: St Georges Day
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 23 Apr 08 - 07:46 AM

He was born in Turkey this proud Englishman

There is an awful lot of proud Englishmen born in Turkey, MC. And in Poland. And in Bangladesh. And in China. And in... Need I go on? :-D
It's what make me proud to be English anyway. Now, if the whole national demographic was white anglo saxon protestant I would start to worry!

Anyone any ideas who's national Saints were born elsewhere BTW? Starting with the UK and Ireland only Wales can boast a home grown Saint! Is 25% pretty common worldwide?

Anyway - Happy St Georges day all. I shall hang the flag out of the window later while enjoying some Polish sausage on Irish soda bread washed down with Scotch whisky:-) A typical English repast indeed.

Cheers

Dave
(1/4 English, 1/4 Polish, 1/4 Russian and the remaining 1/4 comprising Welsh, Irish and heaven only knows what else!)

Subject: RE: St Georges Day
From: GUEST,Scooby Doo
Date: 23 Apr 08 - 07:49 AM

Happy St Georges Day from across the bridge in sunny South Wales.


Scooby

Subject: RE: St Georges Day
From: Black belt caterpillar wrestler
Date: 23 Apr 08 - 05:00 PM

A new song for ST. George's day

ST. GEORGE

In came I from long ago and I came from far away.
You took me to your hearts and gave to me a day.
I've always worn the helmet, I've always held the sword,
I've always been the champion and I've never asked reward.

CH.
Who will raise my banner, wear the red and white?
Who will keep the memory of an ancient Turkish knight?

I am a thing of legend, a thing of myth and sooth.
I do not deal with facts but I am a thing of truth,
A vanquisher of evil, avenger for the right,
But who today believes in an ancient Turkish knight?

CH.

Times are not so simple as new events unfold.
Perhaps today the champion is different from of old.
Today you turn away from the fighter and his sword.
Today you want the Doctor and his mystic healing word.

CH.

So, in comes the Doctor, healer, restoring slain to life.
He reconciles the conflict as he extracts his tithe.
But beware the Doctor's passing when he has had his day.
For the last to come is Beelzebub, and he will sweep you all away.

CH.

Just came into my head on the way home from work. I've been listening to Wishbone Ash tracks recently so the tune is based on an "essence of Wishbone Ash" idea.

Robin Madge

Subject: RE: St Georges Day
From: Surreysinger
Date: 23 Apr 08 - 05:42 PM

On the whole when people put their "words" up here I haven't tended to have much of an opinion - but I have to say I do like these Robin - congrats...

Subject: RE: St Georges Day
From: Black belt caterpillar wrestler
Date: 23 Apr 08 - 06:11 PM

Thanks, I won't try to explain what I mean in the words. I prefer to wait and find out what other people thought I meant:)

Robin

Subject: RE: St Georges Day
From: Hawker
Date: 23 Apr 08 - 07:37 PM

Had a great time at our local tonite, Tarka Morris danced at The Molesworth in Pyworthy, so we had to use our passports to cross the border, all our neighbours in Sunny borderland Cornwall had their red & white flags out first thing, and so did we. 10 of us all went to the pub for traditional English fayre - fish & chips, bangers & mash etc & apple pie or jam roly poly! (NO SPOTTED DICK!) and enjoyed a morris danc display and a hilarious mummers play then LOTS of music and singing! There was an optional fancy dress, ad seeing as how KB and me was the only ones looking out of the ordianry (somewhat medieval) we won a free meal at the pub next time we go! Yippee!
well off to be now!
Nite all. Celebrate all days that can be celebrated, life is too short not to!
Lucy

Subject: RE: St Georges Day
From: LindsayInWales
Date: 23 Apr 08 - 08:19 PM

This might well explain why St George's Day is not allowed to be celebrated. (I'm also just across the bridge!)


Don't say you're English

(From the Queen's Royal Lancer's Website)

Goodbye to my England, So long my old friend
Your days are numbered, being brought to an end
To be Scottish, Irish or Welsh that's fine
But don't say you're English, that's way out of line.

The French and the Germans may call themselves such
May Norwegians, the Swedes and the Dutch
You can say you are Russian or maybe a Dane
But don't say you're English ever again.

At Broadcasting House the word is taboo
In Brussels its Scrapped, in Parliament too
Even schools are affected, staff do as they're told
They must not teach children about England of old.

Writers like Shakespeare, Milton and Shaw
The pupils do not learn about them anymore
How about Agincourt, Hastings , Arnhem or Mons
When England lost hosts of her very brave sons.

We are not Europeans, how can we be?
Europe is miles away over the sea
We're the English from England, let's all be proud
Stand up and be counted - Shout it out loud.

Let's tell our Government and Brussels too
We're proud of our heritage and the Red, White and Blue
Fly the flag of Saint George or the Union Jack
Let the world know - we want OUR ENGLAND BACK !!!!

Subject: RE: St Georges Day
From: TheSnail
Date: 23 Apr 08 - 08:44 PM

Writers like Shakespeare, Milton and Shaw

I hate to break this to you LindsayInWales, but Shaw was Irish.

Subject: RE: St Georges Day
From: Mooh
Date: 24 Apr 08 - 08:56 AM

As a lapsed Boy Scout (I quit in my late teens) I can still remember being taught about St. George in Scouts, or was that because the Scouter was an English Clergyman? Heard about Georgie in church too. Like St. Michael (after whom I am named, you didn't know Mooh was pronounced Mike, did you), there was a dragon, not to mention lots of metaphor, myth, legend, and symbolism. Put THAT in your video game and smoke it!

Anyway, Happy St. George's Day!

Peace, Mooh.

Subject: RE: St Georges Day
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 24 Apr 08 - 09:30 AM

You know, I set to thinking about the Turkish Knight and St George in the Pace Egg or Mummers play. In our version George first kills off Slasher 'A valiant soldier'. Slasher is then re-incarnated. George then bumps off the Turkish Knight or Prince of Paradine, who is carted off. He then defeats, but does not kill, Hector - Champion of the King of Egypt.

Maybe it is the story of St George - Kills off the soldier in himself and so becomes a peaceful. Finds there is no mileage in it so re-invents himself. Kills off the Turkish knight - His old self? Defeats Hector but doesn't kill him. One of his old mates?

He says to Hector - Hold, Hector, be not so hot, for thou knowest not what thou hast got. Suggesting he shouldn't fight him?

The miser says to George at the end 'Why, Master, did I ever call you friend?' Suggesting George was a friend but has changed a lot?

Maybe I am talking bollocks though and the play is just an excuse for us to get pissed? Who knows...

:D

Subject: RE: St Georges Day
From: LindsayInWales
Date: 24 Apr 08 - 10:06 AM

Thank you snail, I was aware of that, but he lived in Ayot St Lawrence, which is in Hertfordshire. That's England.

Subject: RE: St Georges Day
From: TheSnail
Date: 24 Apr 08 - 10:39 AM

LindsayInWales

Thank you snail, I was aware of that, but he lived in Ayot St Lawrence, which is in Hertfordshire. That's England.

Bloody Irish! Coming over here and stealing jobs from decent, honest, hard working English playwrights! Ought to be sent back where they came from. And as for that Oscar Wilde! Don't get me started.

Blah. Blah. Blah. Blah.

Falls over backwards, foaming at the mouth.

Subject: RE: St Georges Day
From: goatfell
Date: 24 Apr 08 - 10:44 AM

Any Mick'll Do         

Jerry Conlon stood before the jury,
before the judge in his gown and his wig
and the whole damn country was sure he was guilty,
even though the evidence was rigged
and when it all came out,
it was the old familiar shout...
he'll be guilty of something sure as hell
what's a paddy more or less and anyway he confessed
stick him down in his cell,
his father as well

Chorus:
Any Mick'll do, any black, any Jew
any other poor soul, not like you
they're dowm from the trees
and they're up from the bogs
they come around here,
they steal your jobs
they're all the same,
just not the same as you
and if scapegoat's what you need,
any Mick'll do

II
They told Annie Maguire she was a bomber
she heard evey expert witness testify
they found traces of gelignite upon her hands
and British justice would not be denied
and when they found they were wrong,
it was the same old song -
"she s a danger to us all, if she's free!"
with every day that goes by.
we're more comitted to the lie
so just leave her be,
throw away the key!

Chorus

III
I hate every Jew who kicks a Palestinian
every Nazi that ever kicked a Jew
I hate every stupid bigoted opinion
and if you don't hate them too,
then I hate you!
but what I hate most of all,
is the sheer damned gall
of a system that never thinks twice,
of furthering a grudge
between a jury and a judge
when they've loaded the dice,
tell me, who pays the price?

Chorus

(Brian McNeill)

I got the words to this song from the interweb

Subject: RE: St Georges Day
From: the lemonade lady
Date: 24 Apr 08 - 11:54 AM

We already had a thread about this. What i did is on the other one.

you won't be interested anyway,

sal

Subject: RE: St Georges Day
From: GUEST,Dáithí
Date: 25 Apr 08 - 03:51 AM

You're right Sal...in my previous posts I was trying to focus discussion on the lack of enthusiasm of the English for a national saint/day and hoping to see what reasons folks might suppose, if that were the case. I guess the reluctance of posters to pick that up - and their preference for folk activities or folklore - kinda prove my hypothesis. The English, uniquely in these islands, don't have a sense of identity...

Dáithí

Subject: RE: St Georges Day
From: Fliss
Date: 25 Apr 08 - 04:03 AM

The players at Blists Hill Victorian museum, Ironbridge Gorge, put on George and the Dragon play all week. The museum is celebrating May Day in style with Maypole dancing etc.

The Boat Inn in nearby Jackfield had a St Georges celebration - which I didnt get to as was at a WI event. On the May Bank hol sunday they have an event - they now have a new maypole but no dancers as yet.

fliss

Subject: RE: St Georges Day
From: Snuffy
Date: 25 Apr 08 - 04:11 AM

The English, uniquely in these islands, don't have a sense of identity.

Or is it that we are so sure of our identity that we don't have to go round endlessly reaffirming it publicly trying to convince ourselves and others?

Subject: RE: St Georges Day
From: GUEST,MC Fat
Date: 25 Apr 08 - 04:57 AM

The kelham Island Tavern in Sheffield had tradional St.Georges grob on sale on St.George's day... Curry, Chilli but then Roast Beef of Old England came from ze French hew haw hee haw.

Subject: RE: St Georges Day
From: LindsayInWales
Date: 25 Apr 08 - 09:48 PM

Snuffy has a point. I'm half English and half Welsh with more leanings towards England as I was brought up there. I feel that the English are very comfortable with our identity so don't feel the need to bang on about it like the Scots and the Welsh seem to need to do....

When did you last see a Welsh or Scottish "theme" pub? Yet Irish ones are everywhere. Why?

Subject: RE: St Georges Day
From: GUEST,Bruce Michael Baillie
Date: 26 Apr 08 - 12:02 AM

I agree with snuffy, I think as the TOP nation as it were, for so long the English haven't really needed to bang on about their sense of identity because it was there for all to see. We were the all conquering heroes (to ourselves at least!)so we could afford to be blase about it.