April 23rd

[bobpilk]

April 23rd happens every year, regular as clockwork, it always follows the 22nd and it always precedes the 24th. Strange that really, it’s just another day, nobody takes any notice of it at all.

BUT, if that date had been December 31st most people in the country would be celebrating.
Had I mentioned any other random dates, 26th January(for 2 reasons this year), 1st March, 17th March, 4th July, 17th October, 5th November or 30th November then probably at least a third of the UK population would be able to find something to celebrate on these dates. Special feasts and parties, paying homage to saint’s days, honouring tradition or just a reason for a good old knees up.

Not the 23rd of April though, that’s just another day.

Oh hang on, its not just another day, 23rd April 1564 William Shakespeare was born.
By a strange coincidence 23rd April 1616 William Shakespeare died. But surely that cant be reason enough to etch the date into millions of English peoples brains, we probably need a much better reason than that.

In the year of 1222 a very significant event happened on 23rd April, The Council of Oxford (and that’s not the local council) declared 23rd April would be a special feast day, it would be celebrated annually in order to pay homage to the new patron saint of England, St George. That’s incredible, I know some English people who didn’t even know we had a patron saint, much less when his special day is held. I know farmers who don’t know that St George is the patron saint of farmers, or scouts, soldiers, archers, cavalry and chivalry (if chivalry is not dead) field workers, riders and saddlers.
All of these groups have paid homage to St George at some time, not now though because it’s just another day.

The strange thing is though, in 15 years of involvement with fireworks I have been asked to supply fireworks or put on a fireworks display for every one of the dates mentioned except for the 23rd April. The reason, because nobody celebrates St George's day because its just another day. Or as quoted to me by a Local Authority, “nobody celebrates St George's day because nobody has celebrated St George's day.”

Now Im all for supporting the red white and blue, I’ve had a few drinks with Irish, Scottish, Welsh Australian and American friends. I’ve eaten special treats for Chinese New Year and Divali. Is it too much to ask that for 1 day per year I can celebrate being English. Perhaps the words of William Shakespeare himself should be recited aloud on this immortal day ...

"Cry ‘God for Harry, England, and Saint George! “

[QVA - Emma]

Great post bob.

Funnily enough I have just started organising some charity events to be held at 2 local pubs for St George's day, in fact a whole weekend of events! Beginning on the Thursday with a Quiz, Friday is Pimms night, Saturday is fancy dress, BBQ and a pie eating contest and Sunday is Traditional roast day!

This may be the year (hopefully) that we bury our inhibitions and celebrate our patron saint's day with pride rather than push it to the back of our minds "in case it offends".

[bobpilk]

I dont care if it offends, this year I will have a drink to celebrate, I will put a St George Flag outside the house and I will let off some red and white fireworks, probably not in that order though

[AboveParr]

Originally Posted by bobpilk

I dont care if it offends, this year I will have a drink to celebrate, I will put a St George Flag outside the house and I will let off some red and white fireworks, probably not in that order though

It's also my brother's birthday - but the majority of people are nearly as interested in him as poor old St George...

I'll be raising a glass to the pair of them on the 23rd - I'm proud to be English AND Andy's sister

[bobpilk]

Happy birthday to your brother and happy St Georges day to you and your family, I hope the day is memorable to you both.

[Cantankerous]

I don't mind, in fact I'll rather enjoy celebrating our nation but why do we have to bring religion into it, England day, national day but not Saint George's day.

[1clickprint]

Originally Posted by Cantankerous

I don't mind, in fact I'll rather enjoy celebrating our nation but why do we have to bring religion into it, England day, national day but not Saint George's day.

Why not saint Georges day? A saint is a person who has been canonized (declared a saint) by the Church. This is normally considered to be an infallible decree of the Pope. Whilst most saints are canonized, a number are recognized as saints despite having not been canonized. All of the Old Testament prophets fall in to this category. Throughout history, many saints have become traditionally viewed as Patrons of various illnesses, people, and places.

(My local celebrates St Georges day every year, last year we got great hats and a lock in! Bonus )

[1clickprint]

Saint George is popularly identified with England and English ideals of honour, bravery and gallantry, but actually he wasn’t English at all. Very little is known about the man who became St George.

Quick Facts about St George

* Born in Turkey (in Cappadocia)
* Lived in 3rd century
* His parents were Christian
* Became a Roman soldier
* Protested against Rome's persecution of Christians
* Imprisoned and tortured, but stayed true to his faith
* Beheaded at Lydda in Palestine

St. George is believed to have been born in Cappadocia (now Eastern Turkey) in the year A.D. 270. He was a Christian. At the age of seventeen he joined the Roman army and soon became renowned for his bravery. He served under a pagan Emperor but never forgot his Christian faith.

When the pagan Emperor Diocletian started persecuting Christians, St. George pleaded with the Emperor to spare their lives. However, St. George's pleas fell on deaf ears and it is thought that the Emperor Diocletian tried to make St. George deny his faith in Christ, by torturing him. St George showed incredible courage and faith and was finally beheaded near Lydda in Palestine on 23 April, 303.

In 1222, the Council of Oxford declared April 23 to be St George’s Day and he replaced Edward the Confessor as England’s patron saint in the 14th century. In 1415, April 23 was made a national feast day.

Patron Saint

St George is patron saint not only of England but also of Aragon, Catalonia, Georgia, Lithuania, Palestine and Portugal amongst others, although he is celebrated on different days.

St George is also patron saint of scouts, soldiers, archers, cavalry and chivalry, farmers and field workers, riders and saddlers, and he helps those suffering from leprosy, plague and syphilis.

[Cantankerous]

So he was a good chap and by the sound of it he did some worthy and brave things. Yes we can hold these up as ideals which we (and other countries) should be proud to strive towards but why does our national day need still to be linked to religion and religious belief when the majority of the country are no longer religious, don't attend some form of temple and don't believe in a flying spaghetti monster.

I'd like to be able to celebrate our nation for what it is and what it can become rather than falling back upon a religious heritage.

But that is me going off on one.

I'd like to see a national celebration of England (well the UK really), any chance of a bank holiday as well?

[1clickprint]

i agree it doesn't have to be religous, i am not religous myself ( i can't even spell it correctly) although i feel its more to do with having a token if you like, something which people can look to and look forward too.

It would be better for our children to celebrate St Georges day as they would be able to learn about him and English heritage at school.

Doesn't quite work as well with just another bank holiday

"Please Sir, What National England day?"

"Its a day when adults don't work and get p****d up"

sounds good to me but something with a little history would be much better for a country which has a great wealth of historical knowledge to pass onto our children.

[bobpilk]

So basically then we all want a National Day, something that we can recognise and celebrate with full government backing and without the current risk of ASBOs that are being served upon some English men and women who celebrate the present English patron Saint in England. Seems to me there is something wrong here in England

[AboveParr]

It is a "National Day" within my company - I'm giving everyone (all 2 of us!) the day off, this year and every year...

If you can - join in!!!

[JGOffshore]

It's high time the English celebrated St George's day and also started having some pride in their history and achievements. Stop all this nonsense running yourselves down. You are a great nation. Not quite as good as we Scots but not bad.