St George's Day

I remember celebrating it at school as a child, along with empire day, May Day round the flag pole etc. Just not PC anymore is it.

Sue01 think i may just invite myself to your house.

It is sad that we, generally, associate both the Union Flag and the England flag with the worst type of nationalist behaviour. Do you think it is possible to 'reclaim' the flags to represent the best things about England/UK?

Thank you Pollyperkins and paddyann for articulating what I was thinking.
I love my country too.

Sorry bluebelle the grin was my attempt to indicate irony. But I do like St G. The first school I worked in, in Battrsea, was St George's. I taught a lad who is known as St George in the boxing world and my dad attended St. George's School in Jerusalem! One of my Palestinian gt. Uncles was called George. So many links.

really .....in the this day and age of refusing refugees sanctuary, trying to kill people on the streets if they speak English with an accent and trying to rid the country of Eu citizens I m not sure we have much to be proud of in our representation of diversity

I think St Gearge is a good symbol for England. As person of middle eastern extraction the stories say he always fought to defend the weak and help those in need , regardless of who they were or where they were from. As England is an invaded country, with its ancient heritage & culture gleaned from different places it is good St George is a foreigner. He represents our diversity.

PS. The union flag, not the stars and stripes

Witzend First.I sympathise with your attack of shingles painful I can vouch for that.
I am proud to be a Brit and fail to understand why so many miserable individuals, look down on those of us who want to celebrate our history or traditions by the flying of a flag. We should be like the patriotic U.S who are people from all nations but where you can observe outside their homes the flags of their motherland flying next to the stars and stripes.
Imagine the shock[ horror] if that went on in the UK?

Chrisshy I had a message from my strong SNP /independence for Sotland pal today wishing me hapy St G day. She does not hate English people but she does not like Westminster!

I ve always thought it such a strange day St George who is believed to be A Syrian who became a roman soldier slaying a mythical dragon in Turkey He is also the patron saint of dozens of different countries around the world why would he be England's patron saint, I mean why not, but I don't get it really ....

No I lost pride in my flag after it became the signal of BNP and other far right groups it can only be reclaimed when those groups cease to exist so I wouldn't raise one on a flagpole Some of the things that are going on in the name of my country make me ashamed of being English but that's another story and it's got nothing to do with not loving your country I still love dear old Blighty but can feel great shame for some peoples behaviour in the name of patriotism

I m with you Paddyann an unnecessary comment from theoddbird not everything has to be down to a red/blue fight

TheOddBird I totally agree with you. I've never voted Labour in my life and never would.

If we did have these extra Bank Holidays, it's unlikely that they would be celebrated on the correct day as Bank Holidays - apart from Christmas, Boxing Day and Good Friday are usually celebrated on Mondays, to make a long weekend, so they would lose their actual meaning very quickly. To celebrate them on the actual day would cause chaos as everything would close down mid week. What would happen if they fell on a Saturday or Sunday? What a daft idea! It obviously came from a desperate ploy to win votes, but wasn't thought through. There are a lot of Bank Holidays in spring as it is! I don't think this is going to win Labour any votes!

what an odd thing to say Theoddbird ,so you care that much for your country you'll stand by and watch the tories destroy it .More than doubled the debt since 2010 ,punished the poor the sick the disabled and now I hear its the pensioners turn next....before they hand over the rest of the NHS to privateers or America... if thats the country YOU want to live in you are a very sad person

There is a St George's Day parade in town & morris dancers will be out. I may go to my local for roast beef & yorkshire pud for lunch!! When I lived in Sth.London it meant the local scaffolding firm decorated their trucks with the cross of StGeorge and then drove round the local area shouting abuse at anyone they thought was "forrun"

George wishes you all a happy St. George day!

Lots of stuff happening today at National Trust places to celoebrate St George's Day.
Crafts in the walled garden at Gibside, where you can make your own St. George flag if you want one.

4 extra bank holidays is not the only idea that Corbyn has come up with, but anyone who wants to criticise him would obviously think so, because they are not concerned about his other socialist ideas.
Until 1834 there were 33 saints days recognised as public bank holidays. It was then cut to four.
When I was at school, Mayday itself was always a bank holiday no matter what day it fell on. Now it's just the Monday after May 1st. It's just so people can have a long weekend, rather than celebrating Mayday.
What's wrong with having traditions?

Happy St George's "Etoille de Hollande" first rose out in the garden.

It's today 23rd Jananana

Neighbours flag has just been hoisted

Theoddbird - funny how we all see things differently - I too love my country which is exactly why i would vote labour! Please dont suggest labour voters (or remain voters ) dont love their country!!!

Have just remembered it's St George's day tomorrow, could hear the annual parade of guides, brownies, cubs, scouts etc marching down our high street. The sound of their band playing is quite lovely and uplifting. Otherwise I never remember it. It would be quite nice to have a public holiday for this.

There are Morris dancers performing in various venues around the country today and more on May Day

Yes, there is always a Manchester St Georges Day parade, and lots of Manchester Terries walk with everyone else and get lots of fuss made of them.

No, I haven't got anything planned except roast beef for dinner!

We used to have a parade in our town with the Scouts, Brownies, Guides etc and various groups but alas no more.