04.23.08
St George and the patriot
Today is the day of St George, the patron saint of England. Declared a feast day in 1222, St Georges day and the flag of St George (from the Crusades) has in recent times been little promoted and celebrated. We have no special day off, we have no feast as such and people displaying the flag are often thought to either be
supporting the England football team or being far to nationalistic. Living as we do in a group of islands made up of 4 countries, it is the Scots, Welsh and Irish who are allowed to celebrate their own identity, to fly their flags and to be nationalistic, we as English are meant to wish to be British and make the most of that. After all we have the BBC news which thinks London is the main (if not only) place in our islands and be happy with that. For many years we were told we should not display patriotism of this kind for fear people would think we were racist, or nationalistic in the extreme.
Today I was in London and for the first time noticed more than a few buildings flying the flag. Apparently one is flying from Downing Street (though Gordon Brown is no more English than I am Scottish). Taxi drivers not only had flags on their cars but had music blaring from their cabs (luckily I walked and used the tube so had no need to hear this at close quarters). Good for them I think. Rather than moan all the time about all things English (weather, London olympics, congestion charge, teenagers, NHS) why can’t we sometimes celebrate what makes us what we are? If scottish people can wear a kilt and dance around eating haggis then why can’t I celebrate with a lovely glass of champagne and the nation’s favorite meal (what do you mean they aren’t English?)
By the way did you know that St George is shared as patron saint with Aragon, Catalonia, Ethiopia, Georgia, Greece, Palestine and Russia amongst others and they can’t all be wrong!
